Bamboo Balance Blog

I wish I had more......

2011-06-04T16:18:00.000-07:00

TIME
I find myself constantly saying that. Look...it's been since NOVEMBER since my last blogpost and writing is something I really LOVE to do. OK maybe not so much love after all, but it is something I do enjoy. Since that last Nov. post I have been to Tampa to see family, went with Dennis to Tuscany & The Amalfi Coast for 3 weeks and in between all that? Well I worked A LOT in between. Oh! I did recently go see Prince at The Forum, which was a treat since the last 'rock" concert I'd been to was about 12 years ago. Other than that, well....hanging with my "menace", dinners with good friends, hikes, Farmer's Market runs, Book Club dinners and I am sure other things can be added.

This sounds really like what amounts to is a very FULL life. Yet, I always complain I need more time. Why? Why am I not fulfilled with the time I get? I mean isn't 24/7...365 enough?

In all actuality.. It is really...

I believe the key here is TIME management.
I somehow need to carve out having a "second" Sunday on another day.

Maybe, the real key here is - getting away from my time stealer's... There I said it... TIME STEALER'S and we are know what they are...anything that has to do with an online connection. Yes folks they are time stealer's and I need to come clean here and admit that if I spent less time on "FB" and everything else with a connection to the cyber world I would probably have more time that I would know what to with, maybe even a "third" Sunday...

Really what I need is a power outage and to say bye (for now)...
Going to take a nap :)

Thanks for letting me rant...till the next time, if something doesn't STEAL IT!!!

What gives me JOY!

2010-11-14T07:29:00.000-08:00

While contemplating what to write about in my blog this morning I could not help but notice how great I feel. Is this JOY? Am I feeling joy(ful)right now? What exactly is making me feel this good and can I hold onto it forever, or at least for a while. So I decided to write about it and put it in the archives.

One thing I definately know that is giving me joy is SUNDAY. This is my favorite day of the week because it is my day to be unscheduled without guilt. This is my guilt free day. Suffice to say, yes I am someone who does possess those unruly feelings that no one wants to have (guilt, worry, anxiety etc....) you know them.... because everyone to some degree has them.

Sunday I give myself guilt free permission to drink COFFEE (which I have for the most part given up caffeine) and I LOVE coffee! Happiness in a cup...love it. I get up early and watch CBS SUNDAY MORNING which to me is the only show worth waking up early to watch (no I don't have DVR or TIVO). Then I go to the farmer's market and get my bounty for the week...YUMMMMM. Today I decided to also blog because it has been about a month since my last post and just because I wanted to.

So today.... Is My JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO DAY and that gives my utter and complete JOY!

For me...what gives me great joy lies in the simplicity of my life, the uncomplicated-"ness" and mere enjoyment of the experience of feeling what is going on inside me at the moment and not missing it because I am too damn busy to notice. I seem to be able to do this on Sunday. I only know one person who can do this everyday and that is my husband. Yes, I can honestly say he really is able to do this everyday, whether he is in Cozumel scuba diving or whether he is home living his "normal" daily life. It is truly enviable and I strive to be more like that. Right now I will take Sunday....

So today "My Joy" is simply:

Waking up when I want
My coffee and CBS Sunday Morning
Farmer's Market
Breakfast with my Mom-in-law (whom I adore)
Listening to KPCC (NPR) while cleaning mi casa (which today I don't mind)
Making guacamole for Book Club tonight
Skyping with my daughter and hopefully Dennis
Watering the trees and enjoying sitting among the Bamboo & Palms in my backyard
Seeing my Book Club buds for laughter, good food, discussion
Wine without the Whine
And whatever else my heart desires
Getting what I hope is a restful full nights sleep

My desire is to extend this to the rest of the six other days of the week, but for now I will take this one day and "simply" relish in "My Joy"....

What gives you Joy?

Ciao for now~

My "INNER" Experience

2010-10-03T08:23:00.000-07:00

It is one week now since I returned from the INNER IDEA conference in Palm Desert CA and I am happy to report that what I learned there is still with me. Beyond attending four days of jammed packed informative sessions, being with other "like-minded" individuals, sharing stories and a room with 2 women who were 15-20 years younger than me, I also learned something about myself. I learned that there is always something new to learn. It never ends and that is the beauty of gaining knowledge.

It's been so long since I have attended a conference, mostly because I had the attitude of "what am I going to learn that I don't already know" which is the most arrogant thought. Well...frankly A LOT! It was my own arrogance that was my biggest barrier, because after 30 years in the fitness business I guess I felt entitled to have it. WRONG. This was very hard to admit to myself and (to now write this publicly), but also very important. It's not that I ever really stopped gaining "exercise" knowledge, it is that I gained it through private avenues, watching you-tube videos, educational DVD's, reading magazine articles, books, and other on-line sources. After attending years of conventions, conferences, workshops, seminars I guess I was done with it and needed to learn via other avenues and gave up attending anything that gathered a bunch of "fitness" people together in one place. Well I am so glad I changed my attitude and attended this years Inner IDEA conference.

What drew me in to go to "inner" verses say the "World" Fitness Convention (held the month before in downtown Los Angeles and much more convenient location) was the AHHHHHHH factor. The Inner IDEA conference was formed 5 years ago in an effort to step away from the traditional IDEA mega conventions that normally generate thousands of attendees who come and spend days attending high energy fitness frenzy sessions and milling around the expo taking in all the latest and greatest gadgetry the fitness industry has to offer. Truth be told it gave me a headache even thinking about. When I first started in fitness these types of industry "get together's" were my adrenaline. Now for me, I can tell you those days are way over. So when I first heard about the Inner IDEA conference (which primarily attracts attendees who are teaching yoga, pilates, meditation, nutrition etc..), I thought "now this is something I could attend" and really enjoy. Not wanting to go alone, I recruited another friend/colleague who recruited a couple of others and we registered. I must say another big incentive was the LA Quinta resort and the 500 person limit to attend.

After the almost 3 hour drive to the desert, I began to experience this feeling of calm and utter joy come over me (mostly because I was on vacation) as we drove onto the gorgeous property of the LA Quinta Resort. We checked in to the hotel with ease and then went to register for the conference. Another breeze....no line, 5 minutes tops and if we wanted to change sessions no hassle, just show up to the session you want and if it's full we were able to just stand and observe. Easy schmeezy... love it. We proceeded to go to the room, unpack, decompress and get ready for the first session, which was Creating Reformer Choreography presented by Nora St John who was fabulous. From that moment on, my creative juices (that were on drip) began to flow. I could feel the cogs in my brain turning and I knew, in order to keep this going I needed to be 100% present the entire time so I didn't miss a thing. I now learned lesson - #1) NOTHING ELSE "OUT THERE" is as important as BEING RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW. Being Present is the gift I gave to myself for the entire weekend. That message was reiterated again at the opening ceremony with beautiful words and music, chanting and an inspiring key note address by Brant Secunda (Huichod Shaman and Healer) and Mark Allen (six-time Ironman Tri-Champion) and authors of Fit Soul Fit Body. I turned to my friend Megan and said "I am not opening my lap-top this whole weekend" as I made a silent vow to myself to step away from the outside world. This for me (and you all know what a FB and email addicted junkie I am) was a HUGE progressive step.

Every session I attended I learned many new things, along with being introduced to many of the finest presenters in the world. Scott Josephson, who is from the Hippocrates Health Institute did two brilliant presentations: Women, Metabolism and the Hormone Highway and Search and Explore popular diets. I don't think I ever laughed so hard, nor had more fun than in Lawrence Biscontini's Bosu:Hard Core Peace Core. Who would ever think you could do mindful yoga, pilates, t'ai chi, chi gong and chants on a bosu and SWEAT?
Lawrence was brilliant, and deserved The INNER award he received at the opening ceremony (especially after taking his Moonlight Meditation class and there being more distractions than ever thought possible) and he still managed to keep the entire class centered and focused. Paul Check's "The Last Four Doctors You will Ever Need" completely threw me for a loop when here I was thinking traditional docs and it was metaphorical. Dr Diet, Dr Quiet, Dr Happiness and Dr Movement, "well being is as simple as 1-2-3-4. How true is that statement? Very... Micheal Kings' reformer sequencing brought new light to putting movement together in a beautiful seamless sequence like a dance. Break it down and Build it up by Michael Fritzke took traditional Pilates movement and broke them down down into teachable pieces we could use for own own classes. I could go on and on but I would be remiss if I did not mention the session that stuck with me the most. That would be the last one I took and ended my weekend on such a glorious high note with . Sue Hitzmanns' MELT on Pilates rocked my world.
Can I say I LOVED IT any louder? This woman was not only an amazing, knowledgeable, dynamic presenter but her passion for wanting to heal everyone in the entire world through her technique came through loud and clear. I was so beyond impressed I decided that when her instructor training comes to Los Angeles I will be the first sign up. I have used everything I had learned from that one session since, and my clients, students and patients just melt (literally). I am Melting over this and cannot wait for more.

We (Megan, Emilee & me) ended on a beautiful note leaving Palm Desert, the 117 degree weather and the most wonderful attendees we befriended (especially Susan & Diane yes you guys!) behind, filled to brim with knowledge, purpose and inspiration. I would say this was the best money and time I have ever spent on an educational conference and I am definately going to attend next year. AND.... my industry colleagues who are reading this...you are all invited to share with me this amazing experience.

It's A Full Time JOB to Stay Healthy In This World

2010-06-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

It has been several weeks since my last blog, and frankly I just needed a break from feeling like blogging was a job (even writing a blog once a week sometimes feels like pressure). Writing is a passion of mine and I want to keep it that way, so when I am inspired and have something to say, I will. Today I do, and now I write.

I have been feeling like I need a suit of armor (or hazmat) to survive and stay healthy living on this planet. I know that sounds extreme, but lately that's how I feel. Sometimes reading and empowering myself with knowledge may not be such a good thing...I may now be thinking "ignorance is truly bliss." Have you ever noticed that just about everyday something else comes out across the wire that can be harmful to your health?...Egads!!...It is amazing people actually live past birth. Between our air and water being polluted, our food supply being sprayed and genetically modified, personal care products being filled with toxic chemicals penetrating our skin how do we even have a chance? And you think the western medical establishment and BIG PHARMA will help if we succumb to disease? Well think again...because that's a crap shoot as well. Like I have said over and over again, taking responsibility of ones own health is the first (and BEST) defense. Over the past month, I have made several very positive healthful adjustments to my lifestyle (and my husbands...he he) to help promote our best defense and increase "our" vitality.

Way Back in my early twenties (during the stone age), I became a vegetarian which lasted for about 17 years. I was later bamboozled into thinking animal-based protein was the very best source of the so-called highly nutritionally valuable macro-nutrient source, whereby having me start eating meat (poultry actually) once again. I became hooked on meat, and did buy into touting it's nutritional value trying to convince myself of it's worthiness. I did this for fifteen years until I recently decided to become a plant-based/whole grain eater once again, and honestly, it wasn't so difficult. The turning point for me was reading the book The China Study. I have read more books about nutrition, diet...yada yada over the years to realize this book really had me at "you want to know how healthy you are...look at the end of your fork" (also watching FOOD INC about 100 times). The author of this book says throughout "I am a researcher" and indeed he is. Not only is T. Colin Campbell a researcher, he is a very thorough one at that. His list of cited studies and references was the size of a small book. His argument for eating a plant-based, whole grain diet could not be disputed. While he does tout vegan-ism, vegetarianism is the next best thing so that I knew I could do with the intention to go vegan (someday?). Now the tough part was getting my 2 gallon a week milk drinking, cheese eating, carne asada burrito consuming husband to make that shift, and that was a whole other story. I decided to use the old "blood doesn't lie" trick and went straight to the cholesterol and triglyceride (he just had a physical and blood work done) in your face these are your levels.. truth. "You need to get those blood levels down especially now that you're in your fifties" was my rant and I used the book as proof. My husband is a "just the facts ma'am" guy, he wants legitimate cited studies, research, hard core proof...so then I knew I got him because this book has it all. Thanks to T. Colin Campbell and The China Study book, now Dennis is a transformed man (OK on his way to being a transformed man). It's been a week for him now, and I already see the changes and it's great. He may slip in a little meat here and there on the road to being a vegetarian, but I will take it...this is a major milestone.

As far as I go, well this week I ate just about completely vegan and I feel fabulous. I prepared my first all American vegan burger recipe (from my new vegan cookbook), which will be grilled tonight, and eaten along with accompaniments of fresh greens from the FM and (of course) wine (not giving that up). I must say vegan prep has a labor intensive learning curve, but definately worth time put in. I also went through my medicine cabinet, and storage drawers and threw out all the toxic sun screen, cosmetics, and personal care products that did not score above a 3 on http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ which amounted to a few hundred bucks worth. I decided our health and life was worth it. I am now using this website to restock my supply of just about everything which has now turned into another job. I have officially become a product researcher...OY Vey.

In this ever growing toxic world we live I believe the best defense starts at home, making positive changes using reliable, trustworthy resources (as in never believe the FDA) and yes it takes work to find them. And I am happy to pass them to you so you can have another job as well...

OK put on your HAZMAT suit and go out and enjoy the world!!!!

See you next time....

yours in Good Health ~ L

MOM a beautiful 3 letter word

2010-05-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

Turns out Mother's day is really like every other day with the exception of everyone wishing you a "Happy Mother's Day". My daughter called at 7:04AM to wish me a Happy Mother's Day knowing I would be awake watching CBS Sunday Morning (she's 3 hours ahead or she would NEVER call that early) and felt her obligation was done. I appreciated the call with gratitude and asked her if we could Skype later on as I needed to get a few more sips of coffee in me to be able to speak any more words. She said "no problem I'll call you when i am in front of my computer", then we said our I love you's and hung up. My next call was to my mom who always seems so surprised to hear from me when I call. Weird... especially being that it is Mother's day. My husband wished me a Happy Mother's Day and asked me what I wanted (meaning a gift of some sort) and I replied "I don't want anything but you can clean the house". I couldn't have been more serious. We proceeded to go about our normal Sunday, going to the farmer's market for our weekly bounty and then getting ready for his mom and brother coming for dinner which has now added more work for me on my 24 hour vacation day and mother's day holiday. Woop-tee-do..... I had mentioned to my husband that it was his mom coming for dinner and that since it is mothers day he should make dinner. He turned on the grill and asked when he should put the meat on to cook. That was his contribution. Well not entirely, he did clean the bathroom. Woop-tee-do. I spent most of the day shopping for food, dusting, stripping beds, preparing dinner, cleaning the kitchen and it's 15 minutes before Desperate Housewives and I haven't even showered yet. Yep, this is like every other day with the exception of a bunch of Happy Mother's Day wishes, flowers from my mother in law and more work than I would normally do on a sacred Sunday.

Time for a shower...then I am crawling into bed, turning the TV on and shutting the bedroom door and enjoying what is left of my Happy Mother's Day....

Till the next time...

Ciao~ L

Making A Healthier Earth One Person At A Time

2010-04-25T06:51:00.000-07:00

We just celebrated the 40 year anniversary of Earth Day and it made me sad that so little has been done to really help the planet in 40 years. It's appalling actually. My greatest hope is that my daughter and her generation will be more aware and make vital changes in their lifestyle and become the "sustainable" generation. I do my best to set a good example and have changed my "evil ways" over the years. I can honestly say these changes were simple and are no big deal once you get into the mind-set of wanting to do what is right for the earth, your family and yourself. What is interesting, is the changes that make a healthier planet also make a healthier you. Many changes were made because of chemicals that can leach from materials into the food that's eaten.

Some of the changes I have made over the years...

Eating completely Organic and eliminated meat (on my way to poultry but not yet).
Replaced buying bottled water (or any liquid in plastic ) with filling stainless containers.
Using stainless or cast iron cookware NO longer any Teflon.
Replaced plastic storage containers with all glass.
Conscious driving (biking instead of driving, combining errands for efficiency).
Cut back on Flying.
Recycling, composting everything I can to reduce garbage.
Creating a sustainable front lawn that uses barely any water and no chemicals.
Lots of bamboo & palm trees in the back yard (helps filter bad air CO2>O2).
Using Cloth Napkins more replacing paper.
Showers (short ones) every other day (except when workout sweat calls me to shower!).
Replaced all appliances to energy savers and light bulbs too.
Computers on stand by when not in use.
Lights and water faucets off when not in use.
Bringing own bags for groceries.
Shopping for food locally at Farmer's market.
Supporting local merchants more (although I do shop at Costco still)
NEVER SHOP AT AT EVIL WALMART!!!!
#1 no flush #2 FLUSH!!!!
Buying less (conscious shopping ...rational vs emotional purchasing).
NO CABLE TV (we have an antenna on top of our house that works great).
Avoid buying anything from China.
Volunteer more.
Borrowing library books instead of buying them unless it's a book to reference.

And the list will continue....

It's about being conscious in a world where it's easy to go through unconsciously.

Last week I wrote about the book Organic Manifesto by Maria Rodale and how important I felt this book was for everyone to read. I am almost finished with it and I wish it was on the must read list for every school in America. Our world will change if we can start now to be the role models for the next generations upcoming. They will not have a chance if we do not make the changes in our lifestyles NOW. This is BEYOND important, it is NECESSARY.

As Maria states in her book:

"If we plan to stay on this planet, we must take a stand. And the very ground we stand on holds the magic key to our future here. We have a once-in-a-lifetime, no once-in-a-species'-history-opportunity to do either the right thing or continue down the path to our demise."

It's NOW time to take a stand.

Ciao~ See you next Sunday! L

We Are Part of the Great Chemical Experiment

2010-04-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

Being in the Health/Fitness industry for the last 100 yrs has put me in information overload with all the "stuff" out there that wants to infuse into my brain. I have decided it can only process and store so much, and frankly these days I just never know what to really believe, especially when it comes to nutrition and food. I have certain "guru's" I follow (Michael Pollan being one) that I trust and feel are worth my time to read what they have to say based on research they have done. So when my friend Barbara recommended I read "Organic Manifesto" by Maria Rodale I thought "hmm it's Barb recommending this", who is a trusted source of honest material, but do I want to bother to read yet another food/nutrition book? I waited a few days to see if I still had any interest and then ordered it. When it arrived, I saw it was only 200 pages and felt relieved. I decided to open it up and read the foreword by Eric Schlosser (which i usually skip) and the first three lines read like this:

Pesticides are poisons. They are manufactured to kill insects, rodents, fungi, and weeds. But they can also kill people.

Now I know this. That is the main reason why I have been eating organic for a while - to avoid the poisons. Pesticides and toxic sprays used by agri-business was something that was not new to me, but I kept on reading and it was the next few sentences that hooked me and made me angry and scared.

Organophosphates-one of the most common types of pesticide-were developed in Nazi Germany to be used as chemical weapons. It was later recognized that the same sort of nerve gases formulated to attack enemy soldiers and civilians could be used against agricultural pests

.....he then goes on to say that over the past 60 years a multitude of these same chemicals

have been applied to the American landscape on a massive scale.

Turns out the federal government has not done a pesticide use survey since 2001 because President George W Bush in his last year of office halted the program because spending 8 million dollars to conduct such a survey was too expensive. I am sure Dow Chemical and Monsanto had something to do with this decision no doubt. Schlosser goes on to give a conservative estimate of the current pesticide use in the US agri business as being

1.2 BILLION Pounds a year

which equates to being about 4 pounds of this toxic crap for every American man, woman and child.

I started reading last night and will probably finish this book in a day or so. I can tell you that this book is an extremely important book for everyone to read. Maria Rodale is no stranger to this area she is an expert and has the lineage to prove it. She has been "walking the walk" along with "talking the talk" for years because it's in her DNA. In case you recognize the name, her grandfather J.I. Rodale, launched Organic Farming and Gardening magazine in 1942 in addition to the organic movement. Then Maria and her father launched Prevention magazine in 1950. This woman does her research and it shows in this book. A word of warning...it is disturbing and it should be. It should disturb every single person who eats, breathes, drinks water and walks on soil enough to do something. And what can "we" do? is the question... Well first get the book and read it. Be angry. Be disturbed. Be scared....but don't be paralyzed and do nothing. This is your life, your food, your air along with everyone else on the planet and this includes your kids. The generations after us are who is in the greatest peril and it is with them in mind that we must DEMAND ORGANIC and demand it NOW.

Go to this link and read this interview with Maria Rodale

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2010/03/maria-rodales-organic-manifesto.html

See You Next Sunday... Now go get this book and read it.

http://www.rodale.com/maria-rodale-organic-manifesto

Ciao ~ L

Do Miracles Really Exist?

2010-04-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

By definition a Miracle "is any amazing or wonderful occurrence" or "a marvelous event manifesting a supernatural act of a divine agent" according to wikipedia. I would agree with this definition and add that I like to think the "divine agent" are angels. Yes I believe in angels and I think my sister is one. I believe she has intervened several times when it has come to my dad's life.

I was thinking earlier while watching a particular segment on CBS Sunday Morning about children dealing with the grief of a death of a parent, that at age 50 (almost), I still have both my parents and what a miracle that is. Well at least in my father's case, (my mother I believe will stand the test of time) and live to the age of 200. About 10+ years ago my father (whose health is not the greatest) suffered to what we were told was a stroke and fell and hit his head on the marble threshold in the doorway of the bathroom while exiting. My mother only discovered him later when she came home, he was on the bed semi conscious with patches of blood along the floor and bed. She immediately called the EMT's who came rather quickly only to find they were dealing with a very combative man (which I hear is normal when someone strokes out) to take him to the hospital. My dad ended up falling into a coma and was in intensive care for a while and we thought we were going to lose him. I received a call and quickly arranged to fly to Florida (I was living in CT then) which was not easy to do since it was spring break and Easter holiday season. As a miracle would have it my friend Deb's husband Rob who sells airplanes somehow arranged for me to be a guest on a private jet that was flying to Florida the next day. I will be indebted to that man forever for that act of kindness. As our small family sat vigil and waited to see if my dad was going to wake up, I could not fathom losing him although I was prepared. I think the loss of my sister years prior, has prepared me for death. I just kept thinking though, this was not his time and a divine intervention would happen.

It did happen. He eventually woke up and could not remember a thing. To this day, the events of that day are erased from his memory and we only have these "CSI" puzzle pieces to put together to form a scenario of what happened. It's now over 10 years since this happened and many hours of all kinds of therapy later, but if you saw my 84 year old dad you would never know that event happened to him. He does get his words scrambled a bit because of his lingering aphasia but other than that, I believe this man is a walking miracle. Before this "stroke" incident happen my dad already had heart by-pass surgeries years before and has lived with diabetes for as long as I can remember. He did manage to quit smoking after 30 years when he was told he had borderline emphysema. Let's put it this way, the man has taken crappy care of himself and manages to keep in ticking. Now that's a freakin' miracle! Now mind you he does have the help of about 12 different meds he must ingest everyday and has to take naps along with watching his "diet" (yea right..). It's not best way to live, but he is around to enjoy watching his family grow and hopefully will stick around to see the birth of his twin granddaughters (from my sis-in-law certainly not moi) and my daughter's college graduation and who knows what else? Maybe he will stand the test of time.... In that case it's my mother we all need to pray for....

Me and My Miracle Dad

This is just another one of a few miracles I have witnessed.

In a previous blog I wrote about my mother-in-law, who as well, literally came back from being so close to dead, it is just inexplicable. Other than she had so many people praying for her (and I am so not a religious person) I cannot believe she is walking around and living her life, still laughing, smiling and just being. If you could imagine the worst possible medical disaster (stemming from a botched colonoscopy) and multiply that by 100 that is what happened to my husband's mom. She's even baffled the doctor's. So Angels? Power of Prayer? Miracles? Who really knows? All I can say, is I am a believer.... especially when I witness (I have it on video) my husband vacuuming of his own volition....Now that's a true Miracle!!

The Jimenez Family (Uncle Beto, Miracle Mom, Dennis, Me & Gary Jimenez)

Till next Sunday

Ciao ~ L

Acceptance

2010-03-27T16:59:00.000-07:00

First of all I would like to say Thank You to my friend Joey for my "Special Exception" Beautiful Blogger Award that she gave to me on her blogpost

http://catchjoyasitfliesby.blogspot.com/

Along with this acceptance I am to fulfill the following criteria:

1. Thanking the person who gave it to me (which I did).
2. Share 7 things about myself...hmmm
3. Pass the award onto 5 bloggers who you have recently discovered and think you are fantastic (I really don't follow too many bloggers)
4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award about the award..(ok..)

Hmmm... 7 things about myself.

1. I want a different set of legs but have accepted that I have this set for life.

2. Surprisingly, I still find myself being ridiculously competitive (as in the case of an 83 year old hiker that totally kicked my ass going up steep hills and I wanted him to eat my dust-errrrr).

3. Some days I skip a shower and use the excuse I am saving precious water for Southern California.

4. I would give up wine and chocolate before my morning cup of strong caffeine laden Java.

5. I have been dreaming about going to Italy for about a million years but I confess I am nervous to leave and go out of the country and so far away.

6. I am so glad I only had one child and sometimes wonder why I did not want any more.

7. I can be (and look like) a pretty tough cookie on the outside but really I am a total marshmallow on the inside...(pssst...don't tell anyone).

The next criteria is tough because I only read a few blogpost (one of which is Joey's).

I do read these others though:

1. http://consciouslyfrugal.blogspot.com

2.http://suethsayings.blogspot.com

Both are excellent and I would recommend you checking them out. Oh I am suppose to let them know about the award....hmmm OK will do.....

Anyway now that I have fulfilled my duties onto my weekly blogpost which is about Acceptance....

The term acceptance is defined as a verb, in which it shows to have several meanings.

The first is known as the act of taking or receiving something offered. For example, if someone is giving you a gift and you receive it, than that person has accepted the gift; therefore, having acceptance.

Another definition of acceptance has to deal with positive welcome; favor and endorsement. Such as, a person could like someone and have acceptance for them due to their approval of that person.

The third description of acceptance is that it can be an act of believing or assenting.

Acceptance comes in many different types:

1. Self acceptance - being loving and happy with who you are NOW! Like the set of legs above I mentioned...

2. Social acceptance -affects children, teenagers and adults. It also can affect people of all ages with mental disabilities because social acceptance determines many decisions people make in life. I would also say that would include acceptance of those different from us.

3.Grief acceptance - there is a difference between acceptance and resignation,you have to accept loss, not try to bear it alone. Realization has a lot to do with acceptance when it comes to grief. I find this comes in various stages and is often very difficult to deal with.

4. Conditional or Qualified -a type of acceptance that requires modification(s) of the conditions before the final acceptance is made (as in a business contract for example).

5.Expressed - acceptance of the set conditions, as in a person clearly and explicitly agrees to an offer. They accept the terms without any changes.

6.Implied - acceptance is implied by demonstrating any act indicates a person's assent to the proposed bargain.

I am writing about this today because I think acceptance (specifically social) has become a serious problem within our society in the United States as well as globally. We seem to be more intolerant of accepting and being open to ideas that go outside of our personal beliefs. This to me seems extremely selfish and its roots are so embedded that I don't know how we can dig out of this mess. Lately, I see it most in the polarization of this country being so divided with regard to issues on Health Care, Immigration, Gays in the Military/"Don't ask Don't tell". I agree that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, however when it leads to being so closed minded that bigotry takes over something has gone awry.

Listen, I was so angry when "W" stole the election in 2000 from Gore but I accepted it. I thought it was the most divisive election ever but I accepted (disgruntled mind you) and endured that idiot being in office for 8 long years. Did I threaten him??? NO...did I throw a brick through a window at the White House??? NO...(of course that would have lead to my arrest) but you get the point. Did I agree with the war?? ...absolutely NOT, but I accepted what was happening and lived my life. Did I agree or like what was happening??? NOT...however, what I did do was live my life and in my own way I disagreed and did what I could to create change in a peaceful non combative manner. I believe this line has now been crossed. People seem to no longer be "peacefully combative", and politicians (both sides) along with the media (Fox news mostly in my opinion) does egg this behavior on. Shame on those politicians and the media for stirring the soup and shame on the public for buying into it. Listen here, don't get me wrong - I get riled up, but I know when my rage can get the best of my rational mind and allow my emotions get the best of me. That is when I look to acceptance and realize that line is fine and can get easily crossed. I take deep breaths and read words (like below) to put my mind back on track.....

I consider myself more a spiritual person and not a religious person, however I think the Serenity Prayer has a perfect place here because it is truly about acceptance:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
*Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

*this particular line I left in but am reluctant with the line "surrender to his will" - I am more a believer in "karma" and what you put out in the universe will come back...so watch what you put out there....

I believe we need more of this within ourselves and in the world.

Yours in Peace ~ L

See you next Sunday......

Deciding YOUR own Health Destiny

2010-03-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

It's after 3PM and normally I do my blog entry following my morning coffee and CBS Sunday Morning program. However, today I just needed a little more time and inspiration to develop what I wanted to say in my writing.

I decided to write about my favorite subject which is Health, apropos for the historic vote in congress on Health Care reform, in addition to the running of the Los Angeles Marathon. What is interesting about both of these events are the people involved in them are extremely passionate about health but in two completely different ways. One is curative and the other preventative. The curative being, government trying to resuscitate or rather "fix" somehow a completely broken Health Care system by trying in essence to put a band aid on a massive coronary, however I suppose a band aid is better than nothing. And... for many individuals here in the US, congress is also deciding their health destiny. The other being (for many running today) trying to prevent ever having a massive coronary (although some are destine to have one anyway). While I do think to some extent marathon running is extreme, it is exercise and that is a means toward prevention of certain diseases. So I guess in a way these are to extremes that have the common thread of health. Although, I think I would rather be running in the LA Marathon today than to be in that fire pit of of HELL called congress.

Whatever comes out of that hell hole today (which I do hope reform does happen because to lay dormant is certainly NOT progress) my hope is that individuals realize we have the power to a very large extent to dictate our personal health outcome. Can the unforeseen happen? Of course it can, however 70% of the cost the US spends on Health Care (crisis care) is in large part for diseases that are completely preventable. I strongly believe that if we all took an interest in our own wellness we would be headed collectively in a much better direction. No you don't have to run a Marathon but getting outside for a walk, a hike or just playing and being active puts you on a path toward a better and more productive outcome. It is truly that simple. Making better choices about food or addictive substances that wreak havoc with your body is a power we take for granted. It's all about choice and making the best choices to live a health life with unlimited vitality.

So on this historic day no matter what the outcome is with regard to Health Reform, choose to reform your own health and I guarantee you will come out a winner....just like all those people who pump their arms over their head when they cross that finish line at the end of 26.2 miles - they are champions of their own health destiny.

Yours In Health ~ L

Celebrating Life and Honoring Death

2010-03-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

I have been on a great roll of writing in my blog on a weekly basis and wanted to keep the momentum going, but topics sometimes can be hard to figure out. So the other day I was staring at my calendar where I write friends birthdays and noticed that from March 17-27 I had four birthdays written down. Among those birthdays however, I have one other date in remembrance and that is the date of my sister Joyce's passing. That date I don't have to write down because it is burned into my memory. On that date she would be gone 22 years and that date is March 26th. So it got me to thinking about the celebration of birth and life and the honoring of death and that persons life as well.

I adore my friends and like to make their birthdays special, because I believe that everyone wants to feel special on that particular day. I try to be as creative as I can, some years more than others but no matter what, that day does not go by without an acknowledgment of the birth of their life from me. And depending on the person, I totally remind them (as if they did not know) how long they have lived on this earth. This is especially fun if they have been around longer than me (funny how that feels "fun" as we get older). So among the congratulatory celebrations over those days I have one very life that I celebrate in my own way on the day of her death. I light a candle, I look at pictures and I remember moments we shared as tears fall along my face. And I also smile and laugh as I honor those beautiful moments. I miss her. I miss her A LOT. I am sad she never met my daughter (who is named after her) and I am sad that my daughter never met her aunt Joyce. I am sad for my parents whose first born they outlived as the "natural order of things" says that is not suppose to happen. She would be turning 58 years old in May if she had lived beyond only 35 years. Not long enough especially when 6 of those years she was sick. Death is hard to wrap your head round, at least in cases like this for me it is. I like to think that there is a reason for everything but I have a hard time with this one as it sits so very close to home...it is home. I resolve myself by imagining she is doing something really great somewhere, where she was needed more than here on earth. The day she was buried my mother insisted she be dressed in the most beautiful blue dress that Joyce loved. I remember my mom saying "She's going to be the best dressed one up there", I laughed and thought "yes she will".

So here is celebrating your lives...Deb 3/17, Bobbie 3/23, Danae 3/24, Heidi 3/27 and yes my sister Joyce I celebrate your beautiful life too even in death. I love you all...

Yeah But can they TEACH?

2010-03-06T08:18:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of mediocre teachers, some good teachers and very few great teachers. The ability to impart knowledge to another and have the individual take in that information and really learn from it is a gift. It's a gift for the recipient in reaping the benefit of a gifted teachers wisdom. Knowledge is empowerment. Knowledge is growth. Knowledge is priceless. It should not be taken lightly and neither should being a teacher. Teachers come in all forms, some more recognizable than others. Sometimes they stand in front of a room filled with students and sometimes they stand right beside only you. They can come in the form of a highly "degreed" educator, a coach, a parent, a mentor or even a friend. Never underestimate the power of information whether it be verbal or non-verbal and it's influence and never be fooled by bravado and it's lack of substance.

Being "wowed" by someone's ability to perform a skill to perfection, or just perform or even how they look is admirable, however it does not necessarily translate into the ability to be able to properly teach it to someone else. And that's what I mean by "never be fooled by bravado"...yeah but can they teach? It's the trap I see the unsuspecting person fall into time and time again. Think of this...You read a best seller written by a fabulous writer and perhaps what comes to mind is, I want to learn how to write from that person. Just because he/she can perform the art/skill of writing into a best selling book does not necessarily mean they can teach you how to write a best seller. That is not suffice to say that there are exceptions to that, but I believe more often than not it's the other way around. Those who can not necessarily do (to perfection), teach, and actually teach sometimes to perfection. So don't necessarily rule them out, as they may just be the jewel among the sparkly glass.

There are "performers" and then there are "teachers", and one world I know very well is the fitness world. I know I am biased but I can tell you without question my husband Dennis is a top rung swim teacher. He may not be able to "perform" and swim like Michael Phelps but he can sure teach a student to achieve that level if desired. I have witnessed personally him show a scared 2 year old who was so frightened of the water in the beginning of a 30 minute lesson embrace and feel the love of the water by the end of the 30 minutes. Amazing. It is truly a gift. His secret is trust, and building an honest relationship with his students. He's been teaching swimming for almost 30 years to kids from as young as 13 mos to 80+ yrs and he does it with love. He is passionate and compassionate and believes in the benefits of what he teaches. It goes beyond just arms and legs moving in the water arriving at a destination. It is about the journey, his students and the self esteem and confidence he sees grow and develop within and live within long after they get out of the water. He has seen this self belief emerge beginning with the simplest goal of just floating to scuba diving hundreds of feet underneath the ocean water. He makes his students feel safe, curious for more and empowered. He wisely figures out how they learn and then teaches to their ability to "get it".

I've had the pleasure and fortune over the years to have a select few teachers who were great. Unfortunately, I have also had very mediocre teachers and some really bad ones. I remember one teacher I had in college who was so awful, I stopped writing and forgot how much joy it brought me until I asked myself why this idiot had so much power over me to stop me from something I loved to do. "Screw him", I said to myself and I started writing again, albeit many years later but I did and that's all that matters.

I learned a lesson in that and have used it in my own instruction as an educator.

When I began my fitness career 29 years ago I started out as an "aerobics" instructor (circa 1981 that is what it was called) because I loved to dance and choreograph and needed to make money. This was before the days of "certification" and everything being so technical, it was just about having fun, sweating and losing weight and of course, wearing leg warmers. We learned quickly about shin splits and the importance of beats in music, it was easy and again just FUN. I performed on a platform to my "fans" and made sure I could outlast everyone who was in my class regardless if my heart was pounding out of my chest and my feet killing me. I had to be better and I had to show it because it was of course all about me. My students were WOWED, kept coming to class as long as I pushed them, made them sweat regardless of how much they hurt or were sore for an entire week. The more pain they were in, the better I thought I was doing my job of kicking their asses (kinda like what Jillian Michaels does now on the biggest loser show except my students were not as large back then).

Fast Forward it's now 2010.

I still see "instructors/trainers" (group or private) still do this except now the audience sees it on TV or You-Tube. I watch an individual perform Yoga moves twisting themselves into knots while reciting something "zen", or a testosterone laden guy (or female) pumping 100lb dumbbells (or a body) over their head or a Pilates instructor doing a succession of very impressive moves on 4 different pieces of equipment upside down. And they are all in enviable amazing shape (OK - I will admit a slight bit of envy of what their body can do and mine cannot...ugh).... But that is not why I am writing about this and it is not about jealousy or envy it's about....CAN THEY TEACH???? Are they even qualified to teach? Can they make it about their client or student and not about them? Yet the public will see this and be enamored and mesmerized and completely taken in and fooled into believing they can be transformed to be just like their "guru" oops instructor.

I love what I do and can honestly say have come a long way since the days of headbands, thong leotards and leg warmers. I've spent time over the past 29 years educating myself (formally and practically) to go well beyond just fitness "training" my students and clients but really educating them about their bodies from the inside out. I have worked very hard to gain their trust and belief in me when I take their body into my hands (so to speak). This is a responsibility I do not take lightly, ever. Even though I have been in this fitness field for 29 yrs their is always something to learn because it is dynamic and ever-changing. I feel I have done my job well when my students have learned something beyond "the classroom" or "studio" and take that knowledge with them integrating it into their everyday lives. I feel honored when I see a client who was hunched over stand up aligned and they tell me their back or hip no longer hurts. I adore hearing how they have become physically stronger carrying that into them becoming mentally, spiritually and emotionally stronger. Regardless if it is in fitness, writing, swimming, math, reading etc... We need to seek out and honor great education in any form. We need to demand it (not just in the formal classroom but everywhere) so this way the performers can just go on and do what they do best, which is "perform" and teachers can do what they do best, impart knowledge and wisdom and "educate".

Until next Sunday...Ciao and I hope you learn something new today from someone...you never know who may teach you something wonderful.

This is why I LOVE Sunday....

2010-02-28T10:55:00.000-08:00

Last week I wrote about my 24 hour Vacation so this week I decided to video tape a snip it of it with my Flip Cam. As per my ritual, I woke up early and watched my favorite program CBS Sunday morning drinking my freshly brewed mega strong volcanic coffee laying in my bed. Once sufficiently caffeinated and full of knowledge from learning all about money on this mornings "The Money Issue" on Sunday Morning I proceeded to get myself ready to get on my bike....Oh yeah - Getting Dennis out of bed is always fun... So an hour later after I was all ready this was our morning...

Off to Eat now...

See Ya next week...

My 24 hour vacation called Sunday

2010-02-21T07:47:00.000-08:00

It is the only day of the week I can sleep late and it's the morning I wake up at the earliest hour. Why? Why on earth would I do that when I could actually sleep? Because I don't want to miss a minute of the most glorious day of the week (for me). Let me ask this question.... For most people when on vacation, do they sleep late or wake up early and take advantage of the precious moments of "freedom" to do what they want? Thought so....that's why I wake up early to the scent of my freshly brewed alarm clock waiting for me in the kitchen. Today I was up at 6AM because my Sunday Morning indulgence is to watch my favorite program CBS Sunday Morning propped up in bed with my cuppa brew. You may ask "why not just record the show and play it later?", answer...I do not subscribe to pay TV, have no Tivo and our VHS recorder is as old as dirt. Besides which it is just not the same as waking up and watching the incredible stories this show produces even if I do have to endure the commercials. It is the one quality TV "journal style" program worth watching (in my opinion) outside of PBS. After my 90 minutes of viewing is over I do a quick check of emails, read some FB posts, write a bit (here) or journal and get my husband Dennis up for our bike ride to the local Farmer's Market to get our feast for the week... Here is a visual sample...

Now mind you...I never lose sight of being blessed to have this amazing fresh, local, organic produce literally right out my back door (or at least a 10 minute bike ride away) an advantage of living in southern California. I suppose in a way it makes up for the lousy air we are forced to breathe and the daily threat of an EQ...but that's beside the point. When we return back home, we are hungry for breakfast and make seriously delicious concoctions (healthy of course) that satisfy us for most of the day....
We eat on our back patio area overlooking the amazing Bamboo and palm trees that Dennis planted 10 years ago when he envisioned replicating an Hawaiian paradise. This is probably the closest I will get to Hawaii (at least for now) so I savor it along with every bite I put into my mouth. This is the one meal of the week I take my time to eat and consciously enjoy every flavor. I eat slow. I think about what is going in my body and know that every nutrient is really good for me, and it feels good. My goal is to expand this consciousness beyond this one meal, although the nutrient part remains steadfast for the most part throughout the week. Even the clean up after the meal is not daunting. We do it together, and it gets done fairly quickly. Beyond breakfast my day is my own and I am never in question with what I want to do next. I may connect with family or friends on the phone or skype, take a walk at the beach, do some laundry or other chore (which I actually don't mind) or sit and read a book. The one thing I try and stay away from is being sucked in by this vampire called the internet. I really don't want to be sitting in my desk chair staring at a computer screen on my 24 hour vacation day. So I now say goodbye and go on with my rejuvenating precious one day vacation and enjoy every moment before it ends at 8AM tomorrow when my first client knocks at my door (with a smile of course).

"Pollan" & "Oliver" are my HEROs

2010-02-09T18:02:00.000-08:00

Michael Pollan RULES.... He's my HERO and I LOVE his message. One reason is, what he says is important...no, it's very important. It's life changing, because if you lose the most precious thing in your life (which is your health btw...) you are Done with a capital "D". If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Pollan, he is in my opinion the current expert on food. He is the author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, discusses the link between healthcare and diet, the dangers of processed foods, the power of the meat industry lobby, the “nutritional-industrial complex,” the impact industrial agriculture has on global warming, and his sixty-four rules for eating. “ His message is very simple, "Eat Food, Mostly Plants and Not too Much" enough said. I heard an interview recently he gave on a program called Democracy Now, which of course I would like everyone on the planet to listen to, but if this gives even one person the impetus to listen I will feel good. This is what stuck with me the most in that interview:

"Of the money we spend on health care, about $2.3 trillion, three-quarters of that goes to treat chronic diseases that are preventable. Now, they’re not all food-related, but most of them are. You’ve got smoking and alcoholism in there, and I don’t know where you want to count alcoholism. But, you know, upwards of $500 to $750 billion we are spending to deal with the consequences of this diet. It’s remarkable it’s not a more central part of the conversation."

Health care costs which includes Health care insurance is a major concern for (I will go out on a limb here) 99.9% of the country (except for congress of course as they have GREAT medical insurance coverage). I hear conversations about this topic everyday whether it be on the news or between individuals just talking. It is on everyone's mind because it is so very important. But most are missing the mark, especially those in government who introduce and pass bills that (may or may not)go into law. "They" are missing getting to the root of the problem. "They" are attempting to try and fix a broken barn door well after the all the animals have escaped. The core of the problem is Food. The entire food industry needs a overhaul, because the way it is now it's like a slow growing cancer that is eventually going to kill us.

And now I go onto my next Hero....Jamie Oliver who just won the coveted TED prize. For those of you who are unfamiliar with TED (Technology Entertainment Design)well I urge you to go to TED.com and listen to the many TED talks that are available. I guarantee you will find it difficult to navigate away once you are sucked in. Listen to Jamie Olivers TED prize wish - http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html and this is why you should listen to him:

"Jamie Oliver has been drawn to the kitchen since he was a child working in his father's pub-restaurant. He showed not only a precocious culinary talent but also a passion for creating (and talking about) fresh, honest, delicious food. In the past decade, the shaggy-haired "Naked Chef" of late-'90s BBC2 has built a worldwide media conglomerate of TV shows, books, cookware and magazines, all based on a formula of simple, unpretentious food that invites everyone to get busy in the kitchen. And as much as his cooking is generous, so is his business model -- his Fifteen Foundation, for instance, trains young chefs from challenged backgrounds to run four of his restaurants.

Now, Oliver is using his fame and charm to bring attention to the changes that Brits and Americans need to make in their lifestyles and diet. Campaigns such as Jamie's School Dinner, Ministry of Food and Food Revolution USA combine Oliver’s culinary tools, cookbooks and television, with serious activism and community organizing -- to create change on both the individual and governmental level."

Now my wish would be for Mike and Jamie to combine their forces and actually make change happen. I realize this is a big wish but I can dream big can't I? Maybe, just maybe, something could actually be done to change Health Care but it's going to take each and every one of us to reform and make major changes in our personal food choices. As a collective society, if we begin to show the food industry we are not going to eat this crap (aka...fake food substances) anymore, maybe they will stop using dollars to manipulate the public, and actually put efforts toward helping us get healthier and lowering the 70% rate of preventable diseases we now have in the United States.
Wouldn't that be a hellava dream come true?

OH SH.....My Back is Jacked!

2009-10-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

Those were the first words I uttered to myself this morning when I woke up and realized I could not move without an immense amount of pain. I noticed the first signs last night when I toweled myself off after a shower and went to put my pajama pants on and had trouble raising my leg to go into the pant leg. The tightness I felt in my lower back was not unfamiliar to me, however this time it felt different. So what did I do? I ignored it, thinking it would just magically disappear overnight during a night of restful sleep. That was a wonderful fantasy.

I managed to get some sleep but finding a restful position was very difficult. I noted lying on my right side with a pillow between my legs allowed the pain to subside enough for me to not moan and close my eyes to slumber. When it came time to shift my body that was when I really noticed I was fairly immobile. This was not good I thought, and fear momentarily came over me. Thoughts of "how am I going to get out of bed" crawled throughout my brain until it came time for me to have to go to the bathroom and I really had to move. It took a while and I felt like I was 90 years old and full of arthritis. "Holy CRAP this just so sucks" took over my thoughts and my husband proceeded to help me get out of bed so I could get to the toilet. A few minutes later I was slowly stacking my vertebrae to stand up straight and then to shuffle my feet because I could not lift them to takes steps toward the bathroom. The effort it took to sit and raise from the commode made me wish I used a depends....UGH. Since my mountain bike accident about 8 yrs ago, I haven't felt quite like this, so I was really taken by surprise by this spastic behavior in my lower back and right hip. "What the hell did I do?" Yesterday I did nothing out of the ordinary really that would have triggered a spasm and discomfort like this. It just happened. Sometimes this just happens. I added it to the "effects of aging" category, it made me feel better...ha.

I then proceeded to pick my own brain to begin to "heal thyself" and not panic. Thank goodness it is Sunday today and I have no work and no commitments, this couldn't have been more convenient (looking at it positively). I remembered I still had one 600mg Ibuprofen left in the medicine cabinet and I needed to get some ice to settle the inflammation in my back to feel better. I also knew I couldn't lay down or sit for long periods or my back would seize up. What I needed to do was just keep moving and have the blood flowing throughout my muscles, and get the pelvis and spine lubricated. So I shuffled around until my grandma shuffle turned into a slow walk.

I kept MOVING....Sounds counter-intuitive right? WRONG - it is the best thing to do when your back seizes up. It will be a struggle but KEEP MOVING....Nothing crazy just walking around. Once I felt somewhat "lubed" up I slowly lowered myself on to the rug over the hard wood floor into a supine position (that's face up) with my feet to floor and began to slowly stretch. I brought one knee in at a time (keeping my pelvis in a neutral position - tailbone down) and then gently brought the knee in toward my chest while exhaling and switched back and forth a couple of times. I then rolled over to the side to help myself back up to a standing position (brought back thoughts of pregnancy) and began to walk around doing little things around the house.

This is everything I tell my clients to do when they have this very thing happen.

And guess what? It actually works....

Obviously right now I am sitting and blogging so...Excuse me - I need to break from sitting, put my ice pack back in the freezer and walk around some more.

OK - I am back now with my ice pack against my back sitting just long enough to finish up this blog and get my back iced for 20 minutes. I will continue to do this throughout the day and I am thinking I should be OK by this evening to make a 6PM meeting I have to attend. I know I will be good for work tomorrow...the only thing I have to scrap today is going to the gym....BUMMER.......

Kravitz on Calorie Burning

2009-09-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post this because it clears up a lot of misconceptions on calorie burning.

By Len Kravitz, PhD

As personal trainers, you are continually seeking new and better programs to help clients attain their aerobic activity goals and maximize caloric expenditure in their endurance workouts. To help you better understand fat burning, caloric expenditure and exercise, here are answers to four controversial questions on this subject.

Question #1: How does high-intensity interval training (HIT) help burn more fat?

Answer: As exercise intensity increases, the body uses more carbohydrate as fuel. However, scientists feel that at the cellular level this overloading stimulus also involves some of the same molecular signaling messages that induce increases in muscle capillary density, mitochondria proteins (energy factory of cells), fatty-acid oxidation (burning) enzymes and other regulatory proteins (Burgomaster et al. 2008; Baar 2006). So, the connection between HIT and improved fat metabolism appears to be associated with adaptation changes that occur at the molecular level of muscle.

Question #2: How many more calories do you burn with the addition of each pound of muscle?

Answer: The scientific estimation is approximately 7 kilocalories per pound per day (Elia 1992). However, the key point is not so much that caloric yield increases from this additional muscle; rather, it is that the person becomes much more capable of working out longer and harder. It is this training effect that adds to the caloric deficit from exercise.

Question #3: Will you burn more calories from fat if you exercise first thing in the morning on an empty stomach?

Answer: The substrate that most effectively powers your workout is carbohydrate. Fat contributes, but carbohydrates in the form of glucose are the main exercise fuel. After a night’s sleep, the muscles are greatly depleted of glycogen (stored glucose) and therefore lack the energy substrate they need for exercise. In addition, the brain utilizes glucose for all of its fuel needs. Consequently, exercising first thing in the morning on an empty stomach can impair the muscles and some brain functions. Clients should have a light carbohydrate snack (e.g., fresh fruit, yogurt and trail mix) before working out, to properly “fuel up” and safeguard themselves from bodily harm.

Question #4: Why is caloric expenditure lower during upper-body exercise?

Answer: Upper-body exercise is generally complicated by the small muscle mass in the upper body relative to the lower body. This muscle mass is less effective at inducing the return of blood flow to the heart, thus decreasing the volume of blood pumped by the heart each beat. Also, for a given intensity, contraction of the upper-body musculature provides greater resistance to blood flow than occurs with lower-body exercise, resulting in a greater increase in blood pressure. These factors lead to a lower energy (caloric) expenditure from the upper-body muscles.

Determining caloric expenditure during exercise

At rest, the body expends energy to maintain the functions of life- sustaining cells. The heart’s continual pumping of blood demands energy, as does the continual ventilation (movement of air into and out) of the lungs. Maintaining a life-supporting environment within and around cells requires a constant breakdown of certain energy-releasing molecules. This energy is also used to form the molecules necessary for repairing cells, storing energy (glycogen and triglycerides), fighting infection and processing nutrients obtained from digestion. These energy-demanding functions form the body’s resting metabolic rate (RMR), which can vary from approximately 800 to 1,500 kilocalories (kcal), depending on body size and temperature, muscle mass, percent body fat, diet, health status and glandular function.

The body uses adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as a chemical means to perform cellular work. Exercise adds to caloric expenditure, as muscle contraction involves the need to repeatedly form and break down ATP. The energy that is released fuels the contraction of skeletal muscle, thereby adding to the energy demands of the body. During exercise the increase in caloric expenditure is predominantly due to the contraction of skeletal muscle. A moderate energy increase comes from the energy demands of the heart and ventilatory muscles in the lungs.

Len Kravitz, PhD, is the program coordinator of exercise science and a researcher at the University of New Mexico, where he has won the Outstanding Teacher of the Year award. In 2006, he was honored as the Can-Fit-Pro Specialty Presenter of the Year and as the ACE Fitness Educator of the Year. Last year he received the 2008 Can-Fit-Pro Lifetime Achievement Award.

I AM INSURED...yet I still feel unprotected

2009-09-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

I see consumerwatchdog.com post hugh billboards about evil Mercury Insurance company and how they want to screw the consumer. I hear evil things about how Wellpoint (Blue Cross is under Wellpoint) and how they are coercing their employees to rally against health reform.

I'm totally screwed.

My (really our..my husband & me) are insured by Mercury for Auto & Home and Blue Cross for Medical.

I'm feeling totally screwed and even though I pay those premiums every month, in full on time, I feel when it comes time to eventually use the insurance they will not be there to deliver. I am feeling raped of my hard earned money which I am willingly giving to these crooks, yet lucky I am insured. What is wrong with this picture? I would love to say "Screw You" and stop it all but we are so conditioned as a society that we MUST BE INSURED or we will lose everything if something happens .... Well....we are insured (but are we really?) and I still feel like we could lose everything while we are paying enormous amounts of money every year for what? Protection? Why don't I feel like I am being protected?

I actually looked into changing to another insurance company (scouted around for quotes from others)- BUT guess what? Our premiums would DOUBLE!!! YES DOUBLE!!! You see my husband has been with Mercury since the dawn of time and because we (he really...I just came along with marriage)has been such a long time "loyal" customer we get a fantastic discount (this is to keep us since they make money off us because we have not filed a claim in a decade or more). Essentially we are customers THEY want so we get the carrot dangled and we stay and Pray they will have mercy if we will ever need them in the future. How sick is this????

And speaking of SICK.....We better not get sick or we are really screwed - we have Anthem (Blue Cross) of CA and they are apparently no better. UGH......
Of course I am not planning on getting sick, in fact the chances are very low being that I do a lot of self care in the form of prevention and Eastern type medicine (acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, NET, NRT and on...I have a village). Obviously exercise is a staple in our household being that is our business and along with that we eat very healthy. Organic is the norm for us in all ways not just food. We buy local as much as we can and support the community in various ways through contributions of both time and money. Practicing health goes beyond just nutrition it's a way of life. It's a part of all our relationships (family, friends, neighbors and community), needless to say we lead a life where we think about health everyday...actually we really don't have to think about it...it's our normal. So I suppose in this way, I feel the most protected. Taking accountability and responsibility for my life is my protection in my own way. I am certainly not leaving it up to any insurance company that is for sure.

I can only hope if it ever comes to pass that the unforeseen occurs in the form of an accident, injury or an illness (that could not be prevented) my insurance would some how come through. Although, I am not holding my breath or taking a backseat, I stay proactive, aware and I am going to pay attention and be mindful and present each moment.

The Healing of America

2009-09-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

The Healing of America
A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care

By T.R. Reid
(Penguin Press; 277 pages; $25.95)

Whether journalist T.R. Reid's new book, "The Healing of America," will influence the high-stakes health care debate this fall remains to be seen, but he makes a compelling case that an efficient, effective universal health care system is not pie in the sky.

He reports that every industrialized democracy, except the United States, has figured out how to provide insurance and basic health care to virtually all of its citizens, and argues that the United States should borrow and adapt successful ideas from other countries. In practice, none of these health care systems is problem-free, Reid makes clear, and nearly everywhere escalating costs are a major challenge. But every industrialized democracy spends a far smaller percentage of its wealth on health care than does the United States and gets better results according to standard measures such as life expectancy after birth (the United States ranks 47th) and infant mortality (22nd).

In the United States, more than 40 million are uninsured, a harsh, anti-democratic reality that appalls Reid. In a hypothetical example, he compares two American mothers who are single parents - a well-compensated executive with employer-provided health insurance and a hardworking domestic who has no health insurance but makes too much to qualify for Medicaid. When both women begin to experience symptoms of illness, the woman with health insurance goes to the doctor, and tests reveal early-stage ovarian cancer. She is treated successfully and lives to enjoy her grandchildren. The other woman, fearful she cannot afford out-of-pocket costs for a doctor and tests, delays going for treatment until the symptoms are unbearable. She does not survive her ovarian cancer, and her daughter becomes an orphan. Compared with other democratic countries, only in America are such inequities commonplace.

For this book, which is a lucidly written medical travelogue, Reid visited a dozen countries. At each stop, we get an opening glimpse of the country's medical system and priorities when Reid seeks treatment for his chronically stiff and sore right shoulder. Treatment options ranged from an expensive and possibly ineffective shoulder-joint replacement in the United States, to the Tibetan-trained doctor in Nepal who told Reid: "[I] wouldn't begin a diagnosis of your shoulder until I had tasted your urine. It tells me so much about a patient's health status."

Among the industrialized democracies, there are various concepts for extending medical insurance to all citizens, Reid informs us. Some countries have incorporated elements of the 19th century German model where employers provide insurance to workers and the nonprofit insurance plans pay private medical care providers. In Canada, the single-payer national system is reminiscent of our Medicare program in which the government pays private providers. Here in the United States, veterans who receive medical care at Veterans Affairs hospitals are in a system similar to Britain's National Health Service, in which the government owns the hospitals and pays for it all through taxation.

Regardless of the different concepts, there are two major reasons, Reid maintains, for the comparatively much higher cost of health care in this country. One is that we have a complex, fragmented system. The other, Reid stresses, is that "the United States is the only developed country that relies on profit-making health insurance companies to pay for essential and elective care."

If Reid had a magic wand, he would get rid of profit-making health insurance companies. If we followed the example of other democracies, as Reid's medical travelogue shows, the federal government would cut the fees and payments to other players in the health care system to extend health insurance coverage to all Americans.

When it comes to the next round of debate this fall in Washington on the future of our health care system, Reid believes in this important book that the Golden Rule can trump the cynical adage, "He who has the gold rules." Maybe, but only if President Obama, who promised major health care reform, is willing to take on the health insurance and drug companies - and, most important, to arouse millions of Americans to demand reform

New Report: Private Insurance Mergers Lead to Near-Monopolies Across the Country

2009-06-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

Below was taken from The Website Health Care for American NOW -
I feel this information is so important it should be posted everywhere. We need to be informed and involved in order to effect a change.

Sen. Schumer and Health Care for America Now Warn of Private Insurers’ Monopolies; Former US Antitrust Official Calls for Investigation

Washington, DC – Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) joined Health Care for America Now (HCAN) – the nation’s largest health care campaign – in releasing a new report today that shows extreme health insurance industry consolidation has resulted in a market failure where a small number of large companies use their concentrated power to control premium levels, benefit packages, and provider payments in the markets they dominate. As a result, health insurance premiums have skyrocketed, going up more than 87% - on average - over the past six years.

“This is the starkest evidence yet that the private health care insurance market is in bad need of some healthy competition,” Senator Schumer said. “A public health insurance option is critical to ensure the greatest amount of choice possible for consumers. We believe that it is fully possible to create a public health insurance plan that delivers all the benefits of increased competition without relying on unfair, built-in advantages. If a level playing field exists, then private insurers will have to compete based on quality of care and pricing, instead of just competing for the healthiest consumers.”

After reviewing the report entitled “Premiums Soaring in Consolidated Health Insurance Market,” David Balto, former Policy Director of the Federal Trade Commission and now a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, sent a letter -co-signed by HCAN - to the Department of Justice Antitrust Division asking for a comprehensive investigation into the health insurance marketplace.

"The HCAN report provides a much needed spotlight on health insurance markets, and what it found is a toxic marketplace where competition and consumers suffer,” said Balto. “Unfortunately, antitrust enforcers have been asleep at the switch for the past several years and have permitted health insurers to acquire monopolies in dozens of markets. Consumers have paid a steep price for this merger mania in higher prices, deceptive and fraudulent practices, and ultimately assembly line health care."

In the past 13 years, more than 400 corporate mergers have involved health insurers, and a small number of companies now dominate local markets but haven’t delivered on promises of increased efficiency. According to the American Medical Association, 94 percent of insurance markets in the United States are now highly concentrated, and insurers are thriving in the anti-competitive marketplace, raking in enormous profits and paying out huge CEO salaries. Profits at 10 of the country’s largest publicly traded health insurance companies rose 428 percent from 2000 to 2007. In 2007 alone, the chief executive officers at these companies collected combined total compensation of $118.6 million—an average of $11.9 million each. That is 468 times more than the $25,434 an average American worker made that year. Moreover, the health insurance industry invests more in buying back its own stock and rewarding its shareholders than in improving system operations, reducing premiums, or in developing ways to pay doctors and hospitals fairly.

"To try to reform healthcare in the current market structure is like setting sail across the Atlantic on a raft," Balto added. He noted while renewed antitrust and consumer protection enforcement is essential, it is not sufficient to begin to restore some semblance of a functioning market. Only a public health insurance option will be able to force private insurance companies to adopt new pro-consumer policies.

“Talk about an unfair advantage,” said Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager, Health Care for America Now. “There is nothing more unfair than the way the current monopolistic private health insurance market controls both cost and coverage. The Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice should take a long, hard look at the way this industry operates. It needs rules. It needs regulation. And most importantly, it needs real competition from a public health insurance option.”

“It will be extremely difficult to return competition to the farm after the barn door has been left open,” Balto explained. “Insurance companies will fight tooth and nail against any antitrust or consumer protection enforcement, and they have the monopoly profits to fund a One Hundred Years War of litigation.”

Contact Jacki Schechner for call information at jschechner@healthcareforamericanow.org or 202-454-6196. For more information about Sen. Schumer call Brian Fallon 202-224-8346.

PLEASE Note:

This report makes use of data published by the American Medical Association, which is not a member of the Health Care for America Now coalition and did not collaborate with HCAN on the writing or research presented here.

The AMA data presented in this report included figures for both statewide areas and metropolitan statistical areas. All data for self-insured employer-sponsored plans refer to preferred provider organizations (PPOs), not combined data for health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and PPOs.

HCAN attributed the following statement to the AMA in individual state reports: “The American Medical Association reports that the number of health insurance companies has declined by nearly 20 percent since 2000, and as a result 94 percent of insurance markets in the United States are now highly concentrated.”

This sentence should have the following footnoted citations:

David Balto, “The Right Prescription? Consolidation in The Pennsylvania Health Insurance Industry,” Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, July 31, 2008. Accessed at http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2008/balto_testimony.html;

American Medical Association, “Competition in health insurance: A comprehensive study of U.S. Markets: 2008 update.”

Please JOIN: http://healthcareforamericanow.org

Inspire Change through EDUCATION

2009-06-06T08:11:00.000-07:00

The "tag line" I use on my business card and wherever else I can put one is "Go beyond training be Educated" because that is truly the key to being empowered and getting control of your own health. Let's face it - NO ONE is going to take better care of YOU than YOU! It's time to stop giving all of our control away to an over loaded so called Health Care (really Sick Care) system. We all need to take the power back get healthy, stay healthy and stay away from having to use this broken system for diseases we can certainly prevent.

EDUCATION is the answer plain and simple. What is not easy is actually applying what we learn to help ourselves. This is where we fall off a cliff.

For some strange reason we think our body is not as important as our car or other material things when it comes to caring for it. Interestingly enough, those "things" can all be easily replaced and at a lot less cost then let's say a HEART for example. Yet, people still have a hard time doing the right thing to take care of this precious item that keeps us alive. We have one body that we get for an entire lifetime and we have the choice as to how we would like it to perform, feel, be around and what we want it to look like. This is very powerful, yet we give it away every single day by not paying any attention to what will nourish it and keep it running in tip top shape. We do better with our car. How nuts is that? Would you put sugar in your gas tank? Probably not, since common knowledge is that it will kill the performance of the car. Now, let's just apply this same knowledge to the human body and the same result will occur....crappy performance.

The human body NEEDS constant attention, care and maintenance in order for vitality and longevity to occur and have it stay out of the shop for expensive repair. A little knowledge backed up by effort goes a long way and reaps big rewards. It's really worth it to "take good care" of one's own machine.

So here's a thought....Make an effort to make a change toward doing something healthy each day. Start small (take the pressure off) and build from there. Eat a healthy breakfast rather than a poptart, take a 30 minute walk instead of opting to sit on the couch to watch a stupid sit-com, drink one less beer, smoke one less cigarette, buy one kind of organic fruit, eat a veggie burger instead of a beef burger. You don't have go out and run a marathon but maybe watching someone run one may inspire you to have that goal someday.

Educate yourself on the importance of proper nutrients, eating WHOLE FOODS grown from nutrient rich soil, exercise and building strong muscles including the heart, proper sleep and reducing stress. It doesn't have to be done all in one day but it does need to be done for longevity and living a rich and fulfilling life.

People are PISSED OFF about HeathCare - And they have every right to be

2009-05-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

I just received notice that my health insurance premium is going up AGAIN!!!! It just went up...oh yeah - that was a year ago. My husband and I are self employed and have to carry our own individual insurance. He just turned 50 in April and last month his premium went up just because he is now in a new decade...Happy Birthday Honey!!! It went up $45 a month - $540 more a year and that's before I received this latest new increase that is effective in July. Now it's going up even more. And what are we getting for this increase? Less benefits I am sure - I didn't have the stomach to read the thick booklet that came with the notice. It actually made me ill and I refuse to go to the doctor because my insurance would not even cover it. My doctor is out-of-network. In a two year time period both our policies have increased our health insurance costs to over $1,200 more a year. I could buy food with that. Instead I am lining the pockets of a Blue Shield executive...UGH.

I AM SO PISSED OFF!!!!! I WANT TO SCREAM!!!!!

Apparently their are many others are out there with the same rant as me. I scourged the internet looking at blogs, articles, anything I could read to find out how others out there felt. I learned I am not alone. In fact, I am in abundant company on this. One person blogged, "We should all cancel our health insurance at the same time" - I thought... "that is brilliant!!!" What if every single person REALLY canceled their health insurance? It would be like when we all wanted to stop buying gas for a day. Great idea to get the point across BUT it ain't ever gonna happen except in my dreams. Although, I am certainly thinking seriously about canceling mine (ours) right now and just taking my chances. I'm healthy, no "medical" issues, and I do a lot of self care so the chances are very low I would seriously get into trouble with my health. At this point, as it is with the docs I do see, whenever I go, the insurance company never pays a damn dime anyway - I pay out of pocket because my stupid deductible is so high and they rarely pay for my "out-of-network" doctors anyway.

I really hope President Obama listens to the cries of Americans wanting better Health Care and Health insurance choices. I would switch to a single payer system in a heart beat and watch those insurance companies scramble when everyone leaves to go for it too. That would stir the bastards up and have them get the hell off their high horses. Give 'em something to compete against Barack!!!...Make them sweat - raise their blood pressure - stress them out and have them know what it feels like to be caught by the short hairs.

In the meantime I will just vent, wait for something better to happen and dream that it does happen in my life time.

Q:Who really is “The BIGGEST Loser?” A: The Viewing Audience… The most “Non- Reality” Show on Television

2009-04-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

From the minute this so called “reality” show came on television, I have been annoyed. With every season that goes by and this show remains on the NBC network, new desperate, unknowing victims are being subjected to cruel punishment (disguised as exercise) and my annoyance grows deeper. The bar keeps getting raised after each “winner” takes home their quarter million dollar prize, cover of People magazine and talk show interviews. Seasons go by and viewers keep tuning in. As long as the ratings stay high, the network and the producers are happy, money‘s being made and who gives a crap about the message being sent.

Well..I DO!

And so do many of my Fitness /Health/ Wellness colleagues out in the real fitness world. We have remained virtually silent and in the background way too long and it is now time to speak up and let the public know what is reality and what is hyped infotainment disguised as Reality TV.

Another season - another the new crop of willing volunteers (or shall I call them victims) line up to get on and bare their souls to millions of TV viewers. Little do these poor unsuspecting, overweight contestants know the danger they will be subjected to physically, mentally, medically and most of all emotionally. The sad part is - that is exactly what the producers want in order to have this show be viewed as “authentic” while pulling at the heart strings of the unsuspecting public. Meanwhile, the actual beating heart muscle of every contestant is being put to a very dangerous test the entire time they are on the ranch. The saying “desperate people do desperate things” is very evident regarding this show. Contestants are clearly desperate and that is what makes them vulnerable and so easy to prey upon.

I recently read an LA Times article published this past November titled “The Biggest Loser: Should you mimic its weight-loss methods at home?” The article included perspectives from experts in the fitness industry (including a kinesiology professor and an IDEA fitness trainer of the year) along with the show’s co-creator/ executive producer and medical consultant. The two opposing opinions could not be more polar opposite with the fitness industry professionals comments airing on the side of “viewers beware this show may cause severe injury or heart attack” to the show’s producer and medical consultant touting that its “inspiring the obese to lose weight and they should not feel hopeless anymore because on this show people learn things no one has taught them before, like how to exercise.” That comment came from the show’s medical consultant.

Has he actually watched the show?

I would love to hear what he has to say when the first contestant actually does die of a heart attack as a result of this show. By the way, is a crash cart within arm’s reach? Do Bob and Jillian have CPR certifications and know how to operate a defibrillator? Unfortunately, it will probably take more than one person to suffer something life threatening before NBC takes notice to the dangers these contestants are subjected to. Apparently a recent stress fracture of the hip of one contestant (Laura) is not enough to send up a red flag. Little does she realize how fortunate she is to be sent packing.

As a fitness professional in this industry for more than 28 years I was curious as to how my colleagues in the health arena felt about this show. The impetus for writing this article came after reading a recent commentary in the IDEA (International Dance Exercise Association) monthly Fitness Journal regarding the “distortion of reality” of the Biggest Loser Show. The comment was written by a well respected fitness professional and educator who’s appalled at this TV reality series, and could not hold in his anger one more moment. Needless to say, I did a happy dance after reading it! -FINALLY…someone was speaking out in our trade journal – YES! His final words: “I am furious that the profession I have cultivated for 28 years is portrayed in this fashion.” I could not agree with him more.

I decided to take the baton and run with it.

I perused the internet to read everything I could about how other fitness professionals felt about this show and the comments were all very similar – mostly disdain. I decided to post a discussion question to my fitness professional groups on LinkedIn (one is the IDEA fitness group): “In your professional opinion what do you think of the show The Biggest Loser and the trainers Bob and Jillian…Do you feel the message being sent to the public is inspiring or dangerous?” The response was over whelming!

These are some of the comments:
“The biggest downside to this show is that it sets up unreal expectations of weight loss”

“As fitness professionals we need to stop associating exercise with punishment! (The simplest example is in public schools where the gym teacher will make a student do pushups when they are fooling around or not performing well).”

“The main problem I have is the lack of risk messaging that I see on the show”

“I am troubled with their choice of incentives for losing weight-using money as a prize encourages people to cheat or lose weight through unhealthy measures such as diuretics”

“The show does not explain often enough that for the average person, obese or not, anything beyond 2pounds of weight loss per week is counterproductive”

“The yelling…it makes for great ratings - but at the expense of what?”

“Great question simple answer…DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS.”

I could go on and on, but you get the picture. We are fitness professionals who tune in for five minutes and instantly realize the danger in the message being sent. However the viewing public does not. That is why this show is going into its what? Eighth season? A well informed viewing audience who knows what genuine fitness training is, along with proper nutrition and sustainable healthy weight loss practices, would never buy into this load of crap. All they see is in three months an “amazing” transformation from obese to buff and none of the smoke and mirrors. Viewers don’t see how they are being manipulated through emotional, gut-wrenching stories and crocodile tears to pull at the heartstrings.

Never mind the heartstrings. Here are some things to wrap your brain around….
Scientific fact: Healthy FAT loss is no greater than 2 pounds per week – period. For every 3,500 calories you do not consume or a 500 kcal deficit per day amounts to a 1 pound (fat) weight loss. That’s ONE POUND per week! The shows results are completely unrealistic according to basic human physiology. The weight loss numbers do not add up – it is totally impossible for this rate of FAT loss (which the show alludes to as FAT loss) to occur. Contestants show a supposed 7 day weight (fat) loss sometimes in excess of 20 pounds. A 20 pound weight loss (of FAT) in one week is 70,000 calories, which is a 10,000 calorie deficit PER DAY. An Iron Man athlete would have trouble doing that, even Michael Phelps during the Olympics would have trouble doing that and these people are unfit, overweight individuals NOT elite athletes. They should NOT even be working out 6-8 hours a day! To burn off that amount of calories would mean constant fueling. You can’t exercise 6-8 hours a day without fuel – period. Am I clear here? The contestants are NOT losing fat – they are losing mostly everything but that (like water weight). The people who are actually losing weight slowly with a more realistic number for of weight loss are penalized, humiliated and punished by being sent home with their tail tucked between their legs as if they did something horrible.

How sick is that?

Have we as a society become so desensitized that we do not recognize torment and torture to individuals disguised as “made for reality TV?”
These contestants are ridiculed and yelled at by their “trainers” (which by the way is NOT the way you get someone to embrace exercise), asked to participate while being subjected to highly injurious workouts and bated with rewards of being able to choose who gets to be eliminated while being enticed by highly caloric cupcakes. I have seen negligence regularly on the part of both trainers with regard to safety, improper technique and form in execution of movement while resistance training, spinning and kettlebell training in addition to numerous other workout routines. Nutrition education seems to be almost entirely excluded on this show in addition to any emotional (eating) issues being addressed by a professional (which I would think would be of the utmost importance). Don’t you think there are deeply rooted emotional and psychological issues that should be addressed here? What is NOT seen leaves the mind to wonder? When the Biggest Loser does do a “follow up” show they seem to glaze over the fact that most of the contestants have re-gained weight (some almost back to the size they were pre-show) in addition to the feelings of embarrassment that overwhelmed them enough to feel sequestered in their own home.

Why is this show still on the air?

Now tell me. Is this show really about health? Being socially acceptable? Or is it about making bucks by marginalizing a segment of the population based on appearance?
I say it is the latter of the three and wholeheartedly believe that all the real fitness professionals out there would absolutely agree.

I Used To Ride My Bike

2009-03-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

Over ten years ago I became an avid cyclist, although today you'd think I never rode a bike. It is certainly not because I don't have one, in fact, I have two bikes - really nice bikes actually. In 1998 I did the Boston to NY AIDS Ride with 2,800 other riders. It was a three day extremely challenging 275 miles ride through Massachusetts, Connecticut and then into Manhattan NY. I trained like crazy for that ride because I wanted to be one of the first three hundred riders to come in so I could get a massage immediately, food and a shower without waiting in any lines. I did just that, all three days, and pumped my hands high over my head when I rode into Madison Square Garden on day #3. I will never forget that feeling on that day or that entire ride. It changed my life and made me feel like an ATHLETE for the first time. I was 38 years old then and my career had been in the fitness training industry since I was 21, yet that day I felt like an athlete.

In 2000, at age 40 I completed the NEW HAVEN 20K Road Race in 2:05:26 and felt GREAT when I crossed the finish line. Before then the longest distance I had ever completed was 8 miles and that was only once. I did consistently run, but only 6 miles at a time maximum. My arms once again pumped high in the air and I felt like an Athlete. As crazy as it sounds to do an Iron Man Triathlon, I do know why individuals go out there and envelope the pain to just cross that finish line with a time that does not disqualify them. It is that feeling of being an Athlete, of tremendous physical accomplishment against all odds, that feeling of I DID IT!!! Unlike the feeling of giving birth, this "Athlete" feeling has never left me but it has faded and I have been longing to get it back. I am now going on my 49th year of life and looking ahead to age 50 next year to (maybe) once again bring that feeling out of retirement and to the surface, arms pumping and all.

You may ask "why did I fall of the Athlete wagon"? One word INJURY... which is an Athlete's death wish. I fell off the wagon because I fell off my bike. This time it was my mountain bike, in the woods....log appeared, I spaced, hit log, flew off bike over handle bars and smack down I went right on that damn log right onto my sacrum. BIG OUCH.........I yelled the "F" word so loud it bellowed throughout the woods, reverberating among the trees, they even cowered. The two guys (yes-me & two males) I was riding with, couldn't believe what just happened, and neither could I. Rising to my feet (not easily) I knew something was wrong but pretended I was OK..(couldn't let the guys see me sweat)....BIG MISTAKE. I still had to walk / ride out of the woods and it was painful. My athlete status changed in one brief moment. This happened 7 years ago and my body has never been the same. I took to a more "kinder" gentler (sort of) way of exercising which has repaired and replenished me and made my muscular and internal strength return successfully beyond what I had before. I work from the inside out and although it is a much different feeling than the endurance type exercises it is just as (if not more)important. It has helped me be fluid, mobile and strong AND keep my successful career in "fitness" (who wants a trainer that can't move!). This is PILATES...I say no more. Along with other functional types of training using balance equipment (balls, TRX straps, medicine balls, instability boards, my own body weight etc)... I realized I needed to give this the credibility and kudos it deserves. I have always used "functional" modalities while training clients BUT it wasn't until I needed it to repair and strengthen myself that I finally gave it the ULTIMATE VALUE it so deserves.

It has taken a "village" (massage, chiropractic, NRT, NET therapy etc...)in conjunction with my specific "CORE" training to keep me operational, functional and virtually pain free throughout the years. So I may just challenge myself once again, knowing my limits (of course) to regain (even for a moment) that arm pumping, crossing the line "Athlete" feeling - even though I know I have already WON!!

Surviving and Thriving as a Fitness Professional in this Economy

2009-03-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

It has been four months since my last entry and I ask "where did those four moths go?" For me, it's been all about being creative, stepping out of my box, networking, basically just putting myself out there. I had a lightening bolt realization that clients are not just going to fall into my lap begging to train with me (although that is how it is in my dreams...). This economy has forced me (in a good way) to get up off my "laurels" and be very proactive in cultivating work. As President Obama has said "this is a time for opportunity" and he is right. We can fall into the "pity pot" along with everyone else constantly talking about how bad this economy is or we can actually do something. I have chosen to do the latter (although I can do a bit of pity potting at times).

This is a time to not only exercise your body but your brain as well. So for the past four months and continuing that is exactly what I have been doing. It's been very frustrating at times but the smallest rewards give me incentive to keep going.

Here are some of the things that I have done:

Created an active mailing list of all my SMY Pilates class students and send them periodic newsletters and emails with tidbits of health information and special discounts on my Private Training Services. I tried a 15 day trial from IContact which is a wonderful software program that is reasonable BUT don't want to pay for it until I have a "sizeable" email list that I cannot handle on my on.

Along with a massage therapist friend we created "WOW" Women Organizing Women - A Health/Wellness Practitioners Networking Group where we share ideas and trade services with each other. Our group is a collective of a massage therapist, Fitness/Pilates Trainer (me), Hair Stylist, Facialist, Hypno-therapist, Yoga Practitioner and it is expanding...

Joined several LA based networking groups through Meet-Up to cultivate new connections.

Found Barter/Trades on Craigslist and I now trade Chiropractic services, Computer Tech services and Dentistry - so if I cannot earn income I can certainly save by trading for these services I need or want.

Put a business page on YELP and got a two new clients from that.

Look on internet sites (craigslist, LinkedIn, etc...) for work and send my resume out - which I did get hired at a Physical Therapy Center as a Pilates Practitioner.

These are just a few of the many marketing strategies I have taken to increase revenue over the last several months. It has been time consuming and certainly NOT effortless BUT it has been worth it and I intend to keep going. It keeps me busy and feeling like I am accomplishing something...I feel relevant and that's a good thing...

Till the next time....

L

My Letter to President-Elect Obama on my Vision for Health Care

2008-11-24T10:13:00.000-08:00

Dear President-Elect Obama,

My BIGGEST concern has always been and still is HealthCare. Simply, the reason being… if you do not have your health in good standing nothing else really matters. Therefore, our system has always been on the wrong side of "Health" Care it should be called "Sick" Care. WE have focused more on the afterthought rather than the forethought and that has been the issue for years and that IS what has gotten us into the trouble we are in now today. The main reason being is, there is not a lot of profit in PREVENTION but a BOATLOAD in curative (and the pharmaceutical, medical & insurance industries), all know this. And so does the FDA I am afraid to say. Ninety percent of the reasons why people flood the medical care system are due to health issues that are completely PREVENTABLE...yet focus and emphasis and reward are not placed on having people pay attention to their own health, it is focused on how do "we" fix the problem after it has already broken (kind of like our economy is today).
We NEED a "HEALTHCARE" policy & system with an EMPHASIS on incentives to get healthy, maintain health and reward those who ARE and DO stay fit and healthy and stay out of the medical care system and not bog it down.

I am a 48 year old health/fitness professional (for 27 years) who has been an advocate of prevention and staying healthy & fit and to lead a life with vitality. The best way to help our broken "Sick Care" system is to stay out of it. Be empowered to take care of your own body because you only have one that your given for a lifetime. No one will care about "your" own body more than YOU.
I have a lot of GREAT ideas to help turn things around and it is NOW that we must begin to change the focus from curative to preventative, if not for me and my generation BUT for my child and the children who are to face this issue in upcoming generations.
Thank you for listening. I would be more than happy to share what I know.
Sincerely,
Laura S. Gideon

The "gene" connection to weight.

2008-10-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

I recently read this article in the NYT and thought it was well worth posting (especially as my follow up to the recent letter to "O")....

For the Overweight, Bad Advice by the Spoonful
By GINA KOLATA

Weight control is not simply a matter of willpower. Genes help determine the body's "set point," which is defended by the brain.

Dieting alone is rarely successful, and relapse rates are high.

Moderate exercise, too, rarely results in substantive long-term weight loss, which requires intensive exercise.

Americans have been getting fatter for years, and with the increase in waistlines has come a surplus of conventional wisdom. If we could just return to traditional diets, if we just walk for 20 minutes a day, exercise gurus and government officials maintain, America’s excess pounds would slowly but surely melt away.

Scientists are less sanguine. Many of the so-called facts about obesity, they say, amount to speculation or oversimplification of the medical evidence. Diet and exercise do matter, they now know, but these environmental influences alone do not determine an individual’s weight. Body composition also is dictated by DNA and monitored by the brain. Bypassing these physical systems is not just a matter of willpower.

More than 66 percent of Americans are overweight or obese, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta. Although the number of obese women in the United States appears to be holding steady at 33 percent, for most Americans the risk is growing. The nation’s poor diet has long been the scapegoat. There have been proposals to put warning labels on sodas like those on cigarettes. There are calls to ban junk foods from schools. New York and other cities now require restaurants to disclose calorie information on their menus.

But the notion that Americans ever ate well is suspect. In 1966, when Americans were still comparatively thin, more than two billion hamburgers already had been sold in McDonald’s restaurants, noted Dr. Barry Glassner, a sociology professor at the University of Southern California. The recent rise in obesity may have more to do with our increasingly sedentary lifestyles than with the quality of our diets.

“The meals we romanticize in the past somehow leave out the reality of what people were eating,” he said. “The average meal had whole milk and ended with pie.... The typical meal had plenty of fat and calories.”

“Nostalgia is going to get us nowhere,” he added.

Neither will wishful misconceptions about the efficacy of exercise. First, the federal government told Americans to exercise for half an hour a day. Then, dietary guidelines issued in 2005 changed the advice, recommending 60 to 90 minutes of moderate exercise a day. There was an uproar; many said the goal was unrealistic for Americans. But for many scientists, the more pertinent question was whether such an exercise program would really help people lose weight.

The leisurely after-dinner walk may be pleasant, and it may be better than another night parked in front of the television. But modest exercise of this sort may not do much to reduce weight, evidence suggests.

“People don’t know that a 20-minute walk burns about 100 calories,” said Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom, director of the weight-management center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “People always overestimate the calories consumed in exercise, and underestimate the calories in food they are eating.”

Tweaking the balance is far more difficult than most people imagine, said Dr. Jeffrey Friedman, an obesity researcher at Rockefeller University. The math ought to work this way: There are 3,500 calories in a pound. If you subtract 100 calories per day by walking for 20 minutes, you ought to lose a pound every 35 days. Right?

Wrong. First, it’s difficult for an individual to hold calorie intake to a precise amount from day to day. Meals at home and in restaurants vary in size and composition; the nutrition labels on purchased foods — the best guide to calorie content — are at best rough estimates. Calorie counting is therefore an imprecise art.

Second, scientists recently have come to understand that the brain exerts astonishing control over body composition and how much individuals eat. “There are physiological mechanisms that keep us from losing weight,” said Dr. Matthew W. Gilman, the director of the obesity prevention program at Harvard Medical School/Pilgrim Health Care.

Scientists now believe that each individual has a genetically determined weight range spanning perhaps 30 pounds. Those who force their weight below nature’s preassigned levels become hungrier and eat more; several studies also show that their metabolisms slow in a variety of ways as the body tries to conserve energy and regain weight. People trying to exceed their weight range face the opposite situation: eating becomes unappealing, and their metabolisms shift into high gear.

The body’s determination to maintain its composition is why a person can skip a meal, or even fast for short periods, without losing weight. It’s also why burning an extra 100 calories a day will not alter the verdict on the bathroom scales. Struggling against the brain’s innate calorie counters, even strong-willed dieters make up for calories lost on one day with a few extra bites on the next. And they never realize it. “The system operates with 99.6 percent precision,” Dr. Friedman said.

The temptations of our environment — the sedentary living, the ready supply of rich food — may not be entirely to blame for rising obesity rates. In fact, new research suggests that the environment that most strongly influences body composition may be the very first one anybody experiences: the womb.

According to several animal studies, conditions during pregnancy, including the mother’s diet, may determine how fat the offspring are as adults. Human studies have shown that women who eat little in pregnancy, surprisingly, more often have children who grow into fat adults. More than a dozen studies have found that children are more likely to be fat if their mothers smoke during pregnancy.

The research is just beginning, true, but already it has upended some hoary myths about dieting. The body establishes its optimal weight early on, perhaps even before birth, and defends it vigorously through adulthood. As a result, weight control is difficult for most of us. And obesity, the terrible new epidemic of the developed world, is almost impossible to cure.

My letter to Oprah about an upcoming BIGGEST LOSER show

2008-09-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

I was so appalled at Oprah when she had Gwyneth Paltrow on and her emaciated body along with her trainer Tracy Anderson and the complete nonsense workout she had her do - I decided enough was enough.....So noticing on her website that she is having an upcoming show featuring the Biggest Loser show and all that surrounds it I had to speak out..... So I did!

Dear Oprah
September 25, 2008

I noticed on the website you have an upcoming show about “The Biggest Loser” and I wanted to respond, however this is more than 2000 characters so I just had to write and send it in (the old fashion way).

I have wanted to voice my opinion on The Biggest Loser since the inception of this show. I will come right to point and let you know that I feel it is the single worst reality show on TV today (or one of the many single worst shows). I happen to live in Los Angeles (the entertainment capitol of the planet) and have realized that things definitely operate differently here than in other parts of the country. I am a born and bred New England Girl (NY/Connecticut) and moved to LA LA land 3+ years ago when I re-married a native Angeleno. Being in the Health / Fitness profession for the last 27 years I decided to move west after living bi-coastally from my husband for a year and half. I figured it would be easy to re-start my personal training business in LA after having a long established training business in CT. What I learned was the rules are different in LA when it comes to fitness and the fitness business. It’s about who you know and what celeb you are training that lands credibility to your resume as a trainer instead of experience, education and true passion for the profession. I find many so called trainers (who are also out of work actors) are more interested in being on TV rather than really wanting to get the public healthy and fit. It’s sad that the viewing public will buy what these so called fitness experts are selling as the latest greatest fitness product or workout when it is nothing but a bunch of hype to inflate their ego. Which brings me back to the biggest loser infotainment (pull at your heartstrings) for the overweight to get your butt off the couch you big loser. This whole entire show serves one purpose and one purpose only, a high rating which leads to more of the almighty dollar in the true fat cats pockets. It’s appalling that people who clearly are hurting emotionally dealing with obesity in their lives and their family’s lives are subject to being put on public display to only be brow beaten for the sake of entertainment and what will look good for the camera to lose the most weight of all the contestants that week. I realize that contestants bear responsibility here as well; accepting to take this on, feeling that this is their last hope for losing weight and of course winning 250,000 for losing big. And the audience buys this crap hook line and sinker and that’s why the show continues season after season sending the wrong message. People who are overweight and have been battling their weight for years are grasping at anything they feel will help them. The Biggest Loser show I believe is a complete detriment but the producers certainly do know how to pull at the heartstrings - that’s the entertainment industry at its best. They can do this because of editing and designing the show for the public to see what they strategically want them to see to get the largest viewing audience buying this crap. But this is far from the reality of their lives and what they have to deal with on an everyday basis to combat losing the weight and becoming healthier and fit. I would like to see how many of these biggest loser contestants actually keep the weight off (the real percentage) and not just the ones who are paid after the shows aired to keep it off for the reunion show or knowing they will be on camera in the future. I would like to know the real behind the scenes of how these contestants are actually treated and feel about this whole ordeal. I am truly amazed that no one has died after what they are asked to do to so they can win a phone call home. This show does not send a true message as to what it takes for an overweight person to become fit and healthy. NOT EVEN CLOSE. An article written by James O. Hill, Ph.D. in the October 2005 issue of Obesity Management (pg 187) clearly explains my point. In fact, this (show) is the thought process those of us in the (real) healthcare/fitness/wellness industry have been trying to change. This show trivializes the complex genetic and environmental influences on our behavior and weight. It perpetuates the wrong message to those who most need the right message.
To me this show is THE BIGGEST LOSER.
Thank You for listening.
Respectfully,
Laura S. Gideon M.S., CPT
Owner Bamboo Balance LLC Fitness & Aquatics Training, Exercise Physiologist, Cert. Fitness & Pilates Trainer, Nutrition Counselor

Election Obsession

2008-09-07T16:40:00.000-07:00

I don't know about all of you but I have a disease called ELECTION OBSESSION. I am going to need a twelve step program to get over this addiction...I cannot STOP! I have never been so into an election as this one coming in November- nor have I ever been so scared....I think I was going through divorce woes during the 2000 election and didn't pay attention...although I do know "W" did steal that one.

The latest to make me spit fire is this Sarah Palin VP selection by MCCain. I still cannot wrap my brain around this one. Is John on crack? He must be because that is the only thing that can explain this selection for veep. What's really scary is this woman is a "stroke out" away from the White House if (gawd-forbid) MCCain gets elected (it hurts to even type it). If you have not had a chance to read the NYT article on Palin this is a good one (among many others) www.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/us/politics/03wasilla.html in addition to Anne Kilkenny's letter to the public about Sarah Palin is very interesting http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters/354444/the_word_from_wasilla
PEOPLE this is a serious election year - read everything and believe 10% and go by your gut...even then the info out there on John & Sarah will make you head for the hills. Look at the Republicans history in the White House verses the Democrats the economy has never been worse when the repugs are ruling the roost along with our foreign relations being in the toilet....but big oil seems to always profit along with other large companies (i.e.pharmaceutical and companies with government war contracts)...hhmmm makes you wonder?

The USA is in the toilet folks and before we get flushed into oblivion we need to elect a president that is at least going to get us back to the rim. It's going to take time believe me this is one nasty task for the next president to take on - but we can't keep doing it the same way BECAUSE it obviously does not work! We NEED CHANGE and we need it yesterday... Barack & Biden PLEASE save us before we all drown.

PRIORITY "Reality Check"

2008-08-04T06:51:00.000-07:00

I titled this post using these words because things happen in life that trigger a reality check of what is deemed a priority. This is happening to me right now. It just so happens, that the name of my company (actually mine & my husband's company - Bamboo Balance) materialized from combining his love of bamboo (and it's strength) and my belief in the importance of living a balanced, healthy life. Seemed like a great way to choose a name of a company that focused promoting simple, healthy, fit living.

Well... as of late, our lives have been thrown way off balance and "simple" it has not been. This all has absolutely nothing to do with the manic gas prices or the state of our nation or anything of a "global" nature. It is totally about my world and what is happening in it right now.

I have always believed that things happen in life for a reason. This is why I am struggling while searching for one at this moment in time. All I have come up with is this... Right now I am due for a - Priority "reality Check". And what is that? It boils down to this question....What is truly important in life? What is a Priority? For me - The answer is - Relationships. Relationships with those you love tops the list...my order is - family, friends and beyond that acquaintances, those we meet and take interest in - even those we don't meet (personally) but somehow care about anyway (this includes animals too). Family is top rung in my world, and in my opinion if you don't have that "familial" thing going on - it is truly a great loss in what can help provide balance when the tipping point comes and you're about to fall.

Most recently, a tragic medical mishap (that's being nice) occurred in our family (specifically my husband's mother). It has completely turned life up side down for us, as a domino effect can when a situation like this befalls a family member.

On July 23rd my very healthy seventy year old mother-in-law went to have a routine procedure done by her doctor as a preventative measure as suggested by of course, him. We are all familiar with after hitting the 50 year old mark, a colonoscopy test seems to be the "dreaded" test that now has become commonplace to get. This was my mother-in-law's fourth time having this done (preventative measure) so she was extremely familiar with the preparation protocol as required, prior to having the procedure done. What she certainly was not prepared for, was the result of 12 days later being in the ICU of the hosp (1 week so far at this writing), hooked up to machines that are allowing her to continue to survive, while the medical staff is trying to figure out what is wrong. Imagine...All this from a "routine" medical procedure that is suppose to be a preventative measure.

Mom's colon was ruptured during the test- this resulted in immediate emergency surgery having to be performed to repair the perforation. Fortunately, she was under anesthetic and felt nothing, however when she awoke, instead of preparing to leave the doctors office, she was lying in a hospital bed in pain, wondering what the hell just happened to her. What initially seemed like a successful repair of the damage and a hospital stay of four days to recover - turned into a fiasco with each passing hour. She progressively became worse (due to an infection occurring), this resulted in her having to be transferred to the intensive care unit. Her breathing became labored, she "coded" and had to be revived ,hooked up to a respirator ( a tube shoved down her throat) because her lungs failed, she went into renal failure and now needs dialysis daily and the nightmare goes on and on. She has so many bottles & bags dangling around her, tubes going in and out of her body, machines beeping and numbers flashing monitoring her systems as the doctors struggle to keep her alive and to best of their ability get her well.

My husband, being the eldest of two sons, takes personal responsibility for his mother and her care. She is the only parent he (and his brother) are left with. His dad died almost four years ago and my husband still continues to feel that loss everyday. His mom is his priority and her medical care is of the utmost concern and importance to not only him, but the entire family extending far and wide. So needless to say, he has spent many hours by her bedside forsaking everything else in life that is also deemed a "priority" (work, sleep, assorted projects etc...). We are self employed and our business revenue depends on providing a service, so taking any time away from providing that is a tremendous sacrifice of income for our family. With this crisis however, not a thought of doing anything different but being there for his mother ever crossed my husband's mind, she comes first - that's his priority. I never had a second thought of him doing anything different and that became my priority. After this week of not working and dealing with hours of medical jargon, and bedside hours - it sends you into a frenzy. So for the sake of some sense of normalcy and the reality of having to pay the mortgage he had to go back to work. So now my husband's time is split between working, then driving 25 miles to the hospital, spending late hours there (getting little rest & food) and repeating it the very next day. My role is to keep all the balls in the air and not let them drop and break into a million little pieces. I always look up....

That is a priority reality check.

When it comes to the question of who will do the right thing and be accountable for this horror show...WELL... I can only hope that the Doctor(s) and Hospital own up and take responsibility. Yes we are human and human beings do make mistakes, however, we are not blind to the fact that this was all a result from something that went terribly wrong after she walked through the doctor's office door to have a routine colonoscopy procedure done on July 23rd.

This domino effect which began with good intention to do something right to care for the betterment of health and life longevity, has turned into the most unfortunate of circumstances effecting many lives in an extremely devastating way. It will leave it's mark on our family for a long time, if not forever. It would be nice to hear an apology and hope that the medical community has a heart and a priority to the care of the patient and not to greed and the "almighty dollar". All we ask is for everyone connected with this medical situation DO THE RIGHT THING...that's all.

We can only now just keep the faith and know where our priorities are.

Till the next time.....

I say Yes to getting fit my Teen says NO - sound familar?

2008-06-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

Being a fitness professional - it's part of the job requirement to stay fit yourself. So I consider it a blessing that fitness is my passion and staying fit myself is something that is a labor of love. I also believe that variety is the spice of life and the motivation of keeping fit (i get bored doing the same thing and so do my muscles).

I started waaayyy back.... in the early eighties with thong leotards and leg warmers doing "aerobics" then eventually onto owning an aerobics studio for a few years. I segued into personal training and all the education and certification that goes along with that kept me busy in addition to my own resistance training workouts. I worked as a manager at a Gold's Gym for a while, then becoming fed up with the massive gym experience - it gave me the impetus to open my own private gym in the late 90's. Along the way I challenged myself as an endurance athlete by getting into racing (running, cycling & mountain biking) and all the joint stresses that it brings, which eventually led in me into (when i turned 40) a kinder gentler but (wicked hard) form of exercise called Pilates and the CORE emphasis it brought with it. I am around the corner from my fifties and feel the best I have ever felt physically (and mentally) my entire life. I have a balance of a variety of exercise modalities (Pilates, resistance training, some Yoga, still cycling - ditched running -love hiking & fast walking and stillness) and my body and I are so very happy - but this is of course my fitness story.....

I am also a mom of a seventeen year old daughter who runs but not for fitness. In fact, she "runs" in the opposite direction of fitness and has for most of her life. You would think the daughter of a Fitness/Pilates Trainer would follow in her footsteps....WRONG! This has been by far my biggest challenge, getting my daughter to LOVE to workout as much as I do.....it's the most frustrating challenge I have come up against in all the years I have been in the fitness industry. It's akin to trying to teach your kid how to drive.....as a parent you can't. She even had her own personal trainer (of course not me) but can you imagine? Talk about a tough pill to swallow - BUT it worked - for a short while. Unfortunately, it was just a band aid and she fell back to her old ways. This is a kid who thinks playing hours of guitar hero is a workout. So you get the idea. I keeping thinking she'll grow out of this, but she's seventeen, carrying an extra few pounds, and hates to move her body doing any sort of activity...it breaks my heart- but I love her to pieces- so I keeping hoping one day she will turn around.

It wasn't all doom - for a while she was running (well more like a jog) on the cross country team when she was a freshman in high school. Her best girlfriend was on the team and convinced her to join, and the coach happened to be one of those guys who believed in not excluding anyone so she joined (LOVE that!). She Hated every minute of it (the actually running part) BUT what kept her there was the camaraderie, encouragement and the sweat shirt that said HS cross country team with her name on it. All she wanted was not to come in dead last, which she didn't most of the time. I was so thrilled! I outfitted her head to toe with all the proper gear and tried my best (without being pushy) to get her to practice so she didn't feel like her lungs would always explode with every step. It seemed to work for a while and then she was toppled one day in the hallway at school by some boy who accidentally ran into her and she broke her foot. She was casted and out of commission and that was that - her running days were over and I could sense her inner delight. I silently cried. After her foot healed she would periodically use that as an excuse to not have to even have to walk to close destinations instead of driving.

I blame technology and it's magnet to keep my daughter from not playing like I did when I was a kid. Why move and be active when you can text message, instant message, play video games? I have to say though, my daughter is a reader (thank goodness) so mostly reads books before diving into the "techno crap" ..so if there is a silver lining in all of this- at least she's a reader, and maybe she'll just read about being fit and staying healthy and how important it is - maybe someday the dots will connect and she'll realize she'll have to actually move her body to get there.

On a last up note she did recently join the local gym and has been going on her own to workout. It started with five to six times a week and now has dropped to two-three. I don't know how much effort she puts into her workouts but at least she goes and that's a good thing. Her eating habits are a whole other set of issues to tackle and that too has been a struggle - but one thing at a time. I just keep doing what I am doing to staying fit for me and as a role model for her, along with training others to stay fit and healthy and hopefully one day she'll be willing to turn around and run (or walk or hike) along side me instead of the opposite direction.

That's all I can hope for.......Laura G.

Plastic or Not? a water bottle controversy....

2008-04-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

It's been a while but in the spirit of being eco-friendly, waste attentive and chemically aware I must write about water bottles. It's been about six months now that I have given up buying disposable water bottles (and all those companies must be losing money over it) because I am becoming more and more environmentally conscious every minute. What I am becoming enlightened about as well is chemicals that insidiously seep into the liquid that we put into our re-usable water bottles. INEVER knew...I was so concerned about being green that I completely disregarded the health concerns that not only go along with re-filling those disposable water bottles (which i stopped doing as well)and leaving them in a hot car...BUT the hard plastic (like Nalgene) water bottles that we refill and refill and refill before we put them in the dishwasher for sanitizing...eewww....I have a clue now. I also have a clue about every kind of plastic and the chemicals that go along with them....who knew???

I think I will use a safe Aluminum bottle now to drink from...that seems to be safe at least for the moment.

Here's a couple of tidbits I recently found and wanted to share...

The following article is by Kate Barrett 4/18/08 ABC news.com

Reusable plastic water bottles may be good for the environment, but a new study shows they might be bad for your health.

There's a possibility that the chemical found in plastic water bottles, baby bottles and the lining of many food, drink and baby formula cans could be linked to health problems, including prostate cancer, breast cancer and early-onset puberty, according to a chemical evaluation released Monday night by the Department of Health and Human Services' National Toxicology Program.

The evaluation doesn't reverse any opinions about the chemical but simply raises new concerns.

The draft brief found some worry that exposure to the chemical bisphenol A, known as BPA, could have neural and behavioral effects on fetuses, infants and children at existing exposure levels.

"The possibility that bisphenol A may alter human development cannot be dismissed," the evaluation noted.

Indeed, the study failed to put to rest long-standing worries about whether the widely used chemical is safe, and ensures that scrutiny of the Food and Drug Administration's decision to approve BPA will continue. While some have argued the chemical is associated with health risks, the FDA and industry experts have stood by their controversial conclusion that the chemical is not harmful.

The chemical helps make plastic tough and shatter-resistant; the plastic is used in food and drink containers, bike helmets, dental sealants and more.

At the American Chemistry Council, Steve Hentges, executive director of the polycarbonate/BPA global group, said today that there's still no evidence of serious health risks or need to remove BPA from the market. This evaluation echoes many of the already published findings about BPA, Hentges said.

"In every case, what they point out is that the existing data provide only limited evidence for those health effects," he said. "It suggests additional research is needed in some areas, and we don't disagree with that at all.

"But the data as it currently stands does not indicate that there is a significant risk associated with bisphenol A."

But others said Tuesday that the evaluation is a critical development.

"This corrects the scientific record," said Anila Jacob, senior scientist at Environmental Working Group, an organization that has routinely spoken out against the chemical. "It breaks new scientific ground. This is significant."

Below is some additional advice from another source.....

Plastics to Avoid

#3 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) commonly contains di-2-ehtylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), an endocrine disruptor and probable human carcinogen, as a softener.

#6 Polystyrene (PS) may leach styrene, a possible endocrine disruptor and human carcinogen, into water and food.

#7 Polycarbonate contains the hormone disruptor bisphenol-A, which can leach out as bottles age, are heated or exposed to acidic solutions. Unfortunately, #7 is used in most baby bottles and five-gallon water jugs and in many reusable sports bottles.

Better Plastics

#1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), the most common and easily recycled plastic for bottled water and soft drinks, has also been considered the most safe. However, one 2003 Italian study found that the amount of DEHP in bottled spring water increased after 9 months of storage in a PET bottle.

#2 High Density Polyethylene

#4 Low Density Polyethylene

#5 Polypropylene

Best Reusable Bottles: SIGG Aluminum water bottles (my personal fav), Platypus Platy Bottle, The Corntainer Corporation corn resin water bottle with filter, Betras USA Sports Bottles, Brita Fill & Go Water Filtration Bottle, Arrow Canteen

Better Baby Bottles: Choose tempered glass or opaque plastic made of polypropylene (#5) or polyethylene (#1), which do not contain bisphenol-A.

Tips for Use:

*Sniff and Taste: If there's a hint of plastic in your water, don't drink it.

*Keep bottled water away from heat, which promotes leaching of chemicals.

*Use bottled water quickly, as chemicals may migrate from plastic during storage. Ask retailers how long water has been on their shelves, and don't buy if it's been months.

*Do not reuse bottles intended for single use. Reused water bottles also make good breeding grounds for bacteria.

*Choose rigid, reusable containers or, for hot/acidic liquids, thermoses with stainless steel or ceramic interiors.

OK...so now you are armed with some valuable information...stay bacteria free and environmentally proactive and well HYDRATED!!!

Till we meet again....LG.

RBC

2008-03-16T09:13:00.000-07:00

What does RBC stand for you ask? RIDICULOUS BRAIN CHATTER.....We all have it - We all want to stop it. How? A really good solution to this problem (and it IS a problem) is to be conscious of it at the moment it is happening. Easy to say very hard to do right? Not really if you don't live your life in a coma! It's called being PRESENT and being a witness to your life. Yes...witnessing life as it is happening...being present for it while it's happening. It's easier to be in a coma! Being present and bearing witness to life happening to (as opposed to my life) is something of a foreign concept to most. I know it has been to me as much as I would like to say I am so evolved that I am 100% present all the time...NOT! Lucky if it's 10% and that's a high percentage.
I have the disease of RBC and it interrupts my sleep, my awake, my everything and has for way too long and I would like to eradicate it from my life forever.
I recently watched and incredible lecture on TED.com featuring speaker JILLBOLTE TAYLOR who is a Neuroanatomist her Session: Who are we? This was the most riveting lecture I have ever heard in my life. Talk about someone who was so present as life happened to her.....

Brain researcher Jill Bolte Taylor studied her own stroke as it happened -- and has become a passionate advocate for the brain's resilience.

It was the most amazing insight to how the mind works. Totally fascinating and inspired me to wake up and take in every second of life happening as it is actually happening....become Present and Bear witness to life as life happens. It is amazing, enlightening and different. It is beautiful, it is powerful it creates one to make change.

Now imagine everyone on the planet doing this everyday. Conceptually it is far reaching BUT let the imagination soar for one moment - don't you think the world would be better for it? So how about we just start with one person at a time...I will start right here....

Thanks for being present....Till the next time...L

New Awakening

2008-02-23T10:19:00.000-08:00

I was told to read A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose weeks before it became Oprah's Book Club choice. So I knew it was a sign I had to read this book when "The Maven" touted it. I never read his other book The Power of Now but I heard from many who have it was very powerful. I can tell you I am only on page 60 and they have been the most powerful 60 pages I have read in a very long time (probably ever). This is no joke - I am completely serious. I read a lot of "spiritual guide" books and by far this is the best one and I am not even a quarter of the way through. His words make sense to me and hit a chord that resonates throughout my mind and body. My mission is to now put these things I have learned into practice everyday for the rest of my life. Very TALL order but I feel it will empower me and enable me to have a fuller richer life than I already do. Always room for improvement I say.
As a Personal Trainer and Fitness Professional for the past 26 yrs I have formed many "personal" relationships with clients (mostly woman) who have deep emotions when it comes to their own body. They identify themselves through what their bodies look like and what they can do having it be more the external focus to "train" rather than an internal focus on improving the body's condition. When I read on page 51 of A New Earth "If you don't equate the body with who you are, when beauty fades, vigor diminishes, or the body becomes incapacitated, this will not affect your sense of worth or identity in anyway. In fact, as the body begins to weaken, the formless dimension, the light of consciousness, can shine more easily through the fading form". This hit me over the head like a lead balloon. It was so simply stated, concise and a "to the point" way of saying what you externally look like and are able to (physically) do does not define who you really are. In fact in can take away from who you really are.
This year on March 26th will be the 20th year passing of my sister Joyce. She died of breast cancer at the age 35 after fighting the disease that overtook her life for 6 years. Joyce was not only beautiful inside but gorgeous on the outside with the most enviable body. In fact, in her high school yearbook she was voted "best body" and her dream was to be a model. I watched this stunning & amazingly beautiful person deteriorate before my eyes until she was 65 pounds of literally bones & skin, a dull shade of gray and lifeless on the day she died. The one thing she never lost was the light of who she truly was, it never faded over time as her body did. I still to this day feel her spirit and sense the lightness of her being. And that is truly what matters in life not losing those 5 pounds to fit into those size zero jeans.

So next time you stress over the number on the scale, a tighter fitting pant or another line on your face decide if it really matters and truly defines Who You Are - You may want to think twice.

Until the next time....Njoy - LG

FOOD: Reward and Punishment

2008-02-07T08:50:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been reading more about food than at any other time in my life. Why now? I have absolutely no idea other than I have more time to really think about it, and I have come across too many (mostly woman) people who have more issues with their relationship with food than any other relationship in their lives. These two reasons have been the impetus for my research into food. I mean EVERYTHING about food. I have come to the conclusion we are a nation obsessed with food in all forms. I've decided that food comes down to two things: Reward & Punishment. We celebrate it and curse it in the same breath and to me that is fascinating. O.Kay.. getting to the bare bones of it all let's look at the basic truth of why we need food and go from there. The truth is...We Need to eat food To LIVE and that is a fact - let us not dispute that one. Yes folks, I am afraid that if we do not ingest food we will certainly perish due to eventual organ shut down and that is the truth. Conversely....if we eat too much of it.. or ingest the wrong kind, we are most likely doomed to perish as well again due to eventual organ shut down. Food: A double edged sword....So in between those two facts we need to get smart about food and use it to our advantage and not demise. I will give you the answer to what will help us all get the advantage our food. It is call our BRAIN! Yep our "Brain" or (Brains if you think you're smarter than most). Either way we need to start using it because we certainly are not. This is evidenced by the fact we are a very sick nation, mostly due to food abuse. The brain allows thought and thought allows action, it is as simple as that. Choices are thoughts whereby determining the action to follow. Are you following? It's very simple...yet not so easy... that is why we are a nation of obese people with a lot of health problems making pharmaceutical companies obscenely wealthy. O.K...off that rant.

I could give you a laundry list of so-called "diet" books I have read over the years but I won't because they basically all say the same thing...this food is good this one is bad, eat this and not that at this time and not after 7PM at night. The funny thing is, WE all know (instinctively) which foods are good for us and which are "bad" AND we CHOSE to not follow what we instinctively know. Why is that? One word...BRAIN. Some other words that go along with Brain...Thoughts, Emotions, Feelings....well you get it. This is what we need to work on first BEFORE we fill the information storage compartment of our brain with food & nutrition (mostly useless but many useful) facts.
I have found an author (after reading many books) that I believe "gets it". Her name is Geneen Roth and I have been reading her book Breaking Free From Emotional Eating. More of that book is highlighted and tagged than not. Everything made sense to me and my neck hurt from my head bobbing up and down in agreement with every page I read. I had the biggest wattage (green of course) light bulb illuminate over my head it would have made you go blind.
On another tangent I went after reading Geneen's book to reading In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan who also wrote Omnivores Dilemma. He opens his book with this statement "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." He went on say in an interview on NPR about this statement... "That's it. That is the short answer to the supposedly incredibly complicated and confusing question of what we humans should eat in order to be maximally healthy,". Wow I love this guy! He is so smart, isn't he? I am not being sarcastic either, this guy is another person who "gets it". It is so simple yet not so easy. The long and short of his latest book is we have gotten away from the natural order of things (read my previous blog). He further mentions that.. "We are eating a lot of edible food-like substances, which is to say highly processed things that might be called yogurt, might be called cereals, whatever, but in fact are very intricate products of food science that are really imitations of foods." We should be eating food that is natural and organic not processed and out of a box or you get at a drive threw window.
So between Geneen & Michael I am satisfied in saying that we should eat FOOD when we are hungry, not too much and mostly plants. WOW...can I have my million dollars now ? This is the answer to the million dollar question (it went up from $64,000 due to inflation) right? So So Simple yet excruciatingly so so difficult....another million dollar question....Why?

Until I C U again...L

What's Old is New....Again!

2008-01-29T09:04:00.000-08:00

I have to laugh and I do...I make it a point to laugh everyday and to laugh hard and for as long as I can. I have friends that I know I can call and they will always get me going. But if I don't have the opportunity to speak with them directly all I have to do is surf the internet for what's happening in the fitness world today and I ROAR!!! I live in "La La" land (a.k.a....Los Angeles) on the "west side" to not be confused with "downtown". I mention this not to make it sound like I live in a "McMansion" on the beach (NOT) and you should listen to me because I have some sort of "clout" now based on my residential location (NOT)...But - because this is the entertainment world epicenter and can be quite a "mindblower" to someone who's lived in New England her whole life and recently moved to this "La La" land of fantasy. Okay, with that said you get the picture. And...not everyone by all means who lives on the west-side lives this fantasy, most just watch it from their realm of reality and get a really good laugh. I mean where else can you go to a coffee shop and sit and watch the paparazzi hovering outside the hair salon next door waiting to snap a photo of...hhmmm...let's see - Britney? NO...Paris?..NOT....oh...some reality "star" who is trying to lengthen her 15 minutes of fame...so bizarre. Anyway...now you get gist of what I am saying.
To my point....Just like every "wanna be" actor in this town would love to get that starring role...just about (not all) Personal Trainers in this area want to capture that "celeb client" or TV reality show to catapult their career for life. Shall I mention the name...Bob Greene - perhaps...Bob & Jillian....Trainers here (again some NOT all) define themselves not by the credentials and experience they have BUT by their "celeb" list of clients they've trained. "Trainer to the Stars" or "Celebrity Trainer blah..blah...blah.." and that title alone is suppose to make them THE expert and and reason you should run to pay $200. per session to train with them (if you can even get an appointment)... HA - now I am laughing really hard!!! Trust me...it has crossed my mind a few times that it would be "so great to get one celeb client and then I would be set"....then the reality of having to sell my soul comes into play and I think...NOT. I love what I do too much too sell my soul like that. Although I wouldn't mind a few more clients these days...this is a tough business in a tough town so I won't lie -YES....a "heavy hitter" would be nice but one I would not have to compromise my principles for.
So to the point of the title..."What's OLD is New Again"...This is what made me laugh so hard... I was reading the Oprah magazine and spotted a small ad for a contest and winning a session with this "celeb" trainer in LA so I was curious. I googled the trainer (who I have NEVER heard of and I have been in fitness for 26 yrs) and low and behold her website is advertising not only her but her new training gadget that she's trying to peddle. That's when I really LOL!!! It essentially consists of two pieces of plastic shaped for your feet to stand in (cushioned on top for better gripping for the shoe or hand) and basically it helps slide the foot/leg back and forth into a lunge (side or back) with resistance and other movements like that. She calls it the (3 letters of her name then the word slide next to it) and sells it for $29.99 and it includes a booklet. I remember doing that very same exercise about 15 years ago on a ReeBok slide board when I taught a slide class!!! This girl's a genius!! She managed to pull and old idea and create a new one peddling a product that is THE latest thing to give you that "tight ASS" and fit body you've always dreamed of. AND...you can get it all with the help of the ---Slide for $29.99 + S&H....
Well they could also double as drink coasters.... I'm still laughing and searching for the next BIG thing that's been recycled!!!

Until the next time....LOL!!! Laura

Paradigm Shift

2008-01-16T11:04:00.000-08:00

"Think of a Paradigm Shift as a change from one way of thinking to another. It's a revolution, a transformation, a sort of metamorphosis. It just does not happen, but rather it is driven by agents of change". (Reference: Kuhn, Thomas, S., "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions")
We all can be "agents of change" simply by taking control of our own lives, making better more informed choices when it comes to our health, our planet and our government for example. But let's just take our health for now and leave the rest for another day another blog.
The paradigm that I am writing about today involves a movement toward a more nutritional approach of taking care of our health. Getting back to a "natural" way of life. Think of this....What Life was like in the days preceding the "bigger,better,faster" era. Technology in part has led us into a world of instant gratification and convenience. It is precisely this very thing that has become so detrimental to our physical health. We have as a nation become an extremely lazy population (but technically savvy) and this has hurt us significantly in many ways not just our health. However, it is not to late to make a change or in other words have a paradigm shift.

Have you noticed the multitude of drug companies advertisements of prescription meds bombarding us everyday on television? I don't recall even five years ago seeing as many Ads as their are today. I think drug companies make up new diseases in order to feed their addictive "greed" habit. Don't get me wrong, I do feel that drug companies have contributed immensely to the eradication of life threatening diseases. No more small pox for instance. We don't hear about people dying of polio or tuberculosis. Thanks for penicillin and the drugs that kill bacteria and the "epi-pen" all hail aspirin. Those are not the drugs I am talking about. I am talking about the drugs that people would not need in the first place if they bothered to take care of their own health and stopped eating double cheeseburgers and McFries and then stressing over it. I'm talking about Lipitor or Zetia. I'm talking about Paxil or whatever the drug of choice is for depression. And isn't there a drug for...what is it? "Social Dysfunction"...you know the one where you're in a crowd of people and suddenly you can't move or speak. There's a drug for that. Drug companies have hugh lobbies which work with the FDA and then help push drugs to treat new illnesses. RLS...ADHD....we are now given a diagnosis by reciting letters from the alphabet. And the CRAZY part is the side effects from these drugs are worse than the supposed need for it. What have we come to as a nation? Drug companies are making hugh profits (even after they pay out enormous legal bills defending drugs that go awry)so what does that tell you? We have gotten away from simple eating. You know eating when we are hungry, eating fruits and vegetables and foods that come naturally instead from a box. We don't walk anywhere anymore, we drive even if it's six feet (OK that's really exaggerating)but you know what I mean. We are getting away from the natural order of things or an "organic" way of life and we are a nation who's getting sicker while drug companies are flourishing . Ask yourself ....why is that? We are in desperate need of a paradigm shift in this country and we collectively need to begin that process TODAY!
till the next time...C Ya -L

All we need is change

2008-01-06T18:23:00.000-08:00

I watched the political debates held in New Hampshire last night and I must say I actually listened with both ears. This is the very first time I have ever done this and I have been able to vote in the past 7 presidential elections. My number one concern I have to say is the future of our health care system, after that everything else takes a very close second. Being in the Health & Fitness industry as my profession for the past 26 years, I have always believed that the best health care is the care we take of our own health. With the exception of one or two candidates all of them missed this very important point: American needs to be Pro-Active about their health NOT RE-active. The state of our HC system is a broken mess because people care so little about taking care of the most precious thing they own - Their OWN BODY! I've seen people take better care of their stupid motor vehicles. Which one do you think costs more to fix when it breaks down...DUH! The American public has got to wake up and get a clue here. No president that gets elected this November is going to be able to make the kinds of changes they are standing up and pontificating about now. It would be nice but it's is not going to happen. This country has way too many problems to fix and too many people want to spend time arguing about what is the best thing or the right thing to do rather than actually DO something about it. It's time the people who live in this country be accountable for themselves, take action and make a difference in their own life (and more importantly health) stop complaining and then go beyond that and help someone else. If we all just did even a little bit think of the impact that would have. If everyone paid more attention to eating healthier, moving their body more, keeping their body weight at a healthy number and stopped yelling I tell you that would make an enormous impact on our HC system...people would have to use it less and what a savings that would be. If we all paid a little more attention to being more conscious of the planet and took a bag to the market every single time they went shopping - imagine what the impact would be. It's the little things done that make the biggest changes - and think of the changes that could be made when the little things are done collectively by a whole bunch of people. Now that's change and we wouldn't even have to wait to see who gets to sit in the Oval Office next January to start seeing results from it! Start today - no better time than right now... C ya next time...'till we meet again.

First Blog

2008-01-03T16:13:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first blog of the new year which happens to be The First Blog of this site. Well a great way to kick off 2008 is to set an intention(s) for the new year. I say intention instead of resolution because in all years past I have resolved to do so much and have done little...OK.. nothing. So this year the word is intention...sounds more forceful, more determined doesn't it? Or have I been in too many Yoga classes? Well no matter I am set on setting my intentions for the year....Here I go:
#1. Worry less and laugh more (I watched 10 questions for the Dali Lama) and he was always laughing and seems like he doesn't worry much so I think that is good.
#2. Eat less meat and a whole bunch of other stuff that is bad (I read that book Skinny Bitch) - it scared the crap out of me...I did laugh reading some parts though.
#3. Be more Positive & Grateful (maybe the "law of attraction" does work) That's The secret I hear...
#4. Be more conscious of the planet...we are going to start composting.
#5. Do something to change the world...like change the Health Care System...well maybe that's a bit much...so I will pay attention to my Health Care System...BY
*Getting in the best shape ever and helping others do the same (plus it helps my business being a trainer and all!)...
Anyway....my intentions for 2008 is to change things in my life that need changing, look forward and not back and give back. I think that's a pretty good start...I will keep you posted.