Healthy B.P.M.

We know the benefits of fitness for us, but how often do we consider the benefits of exercise for our children? It isn’t necessary to have a formal workout routine for them (unless that fits your family structure). What’s important is that they spend less time with the Playstation and get moving. Here are some stats from the CDC. Daily participation in school physical education among adolescents dropped 14 percentage points over the last 13 years — from 42% in 1991 to 28% in 2003.

In addition, less than one-third (28%) of high school students meet currently recommended levels of physical activity. The most important lessons children learn, begin at home.In our busy hectic lives, it can be hard to work in playtime with our children. To properly grow and learn, children need to be active. We can help by playing with them. Here are some ideas and benefits:

Some people procrastinate, as a way of life, tomorrow never gets here when it comes to making changes. So here’s the $20 million question, what are YOU waiting for? While it is true that proper mindset is crucial in making changes, it is also true that there is no magical date or time when it’s going to show up. This is true in regards to fitness more than any other area. There’s no denying that a vast majority of us are in denial. We have a thousand and one excuses for not getting started and even more for quitting. Different things spur individuals into action, whether it’s a less than favorable report from the doctor, or that dreaded three-way mirror in the fitting room.

How’d the first set of common sense rules sit with you? Hey don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just trying to help. Following these practical tips can save you time, money and frustration. Tally ho!

Most of weight loss and fitness is just plain ol common sense which some seem to be lacking. I have 14 basic common sense steps you can take to take the pressure off and enjoy your life in the meantime. Here’s the first 7 and the second set will come tomorrow.

I want to tell you a story. It’s a story about a heart. Listen up.Hi my name is Henrietta and I’m a heart. I’m over worked because Harriet, my owner is overweight and that puts more stress on me. Let me tell you a little bit about Harriet. She is a 32 year old African-American woman. Both parents are overweight. Her mom is diabetic and her father suffered a heart attack at the age of 43. Harriet is the oldest of six children. As a teenager she was active, playing volleyball and running track. The activity helped her to balance the hefty meals that were a staple in their household. Harriet was afraid of being overweight and started dieting her senior year of high school. She’d starve herself all day and then eat a meager supper.

As most of us visit our local gym, we are unaware of the dangers that lurk amongst the various cardio and fitness equipment. What you don’t want is to be exposed to a deadly strain of staph bacteria, called “methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Its been all over the news lately as cases of exposure are turning up in the most unlikely places, such as schools and gyms. But this should be expected as germs thrive in these types of environments that allow them to transfer quickly and grow uninhibited.

According to Fiona Duffy, Germs in your gym bag, we are exposed to germs in many ways in the gym. One way is sharing towels. Sharing towels has been linked to the spread of this new type of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in athletic and sports teams.

“Community-acquired strains of MRSA are quite different from the hospital type,” says Dr Sally Bloomfield of the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene in London.

“They have acquired the ability to produce a potent tissue toxin called Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL), which can lead to skin and soft tissue infections, including flesh-eating forms.

“These bacteria can infect the young and healthy. Transmission via close contact, sharing towels and sports equipment is a significant risk factor.”

More than half of us carry the ‘old type’ of Staphylococcus aureus on our skin. Anyone with broken skin - cuts, wounds or abrasions - is at risk of contracting a staph infection from someone else.

You can also pass on threadworm parasites and infections such as diarrhoea and tummy upsets through towels, says Professor Jean Emberlin of the University of Worcester.

Bridget Coila’s article, Gym germs: why common diseases flourish in your gym and what you can do to avoid them, disclosed that the human papillomavirus (i.e., the virus that causes plantar warts) is another disease-causing organism commonly found in health clubs. These warts appear alone or in clusters on the bottom of the feet. Even in a seemingly immaculate gym, these organisms can dwell in unexpected places. “The most common place people pick up warts and athlete’s foot is in the locker room. It doesn’t matter if it has a carpeted or tile floor. The second place is in shower stalls. Another place most people don’t suspect is alongside indoor pools, but a lot of foot fungus is found there,” Adams says.

Preventative actions: If using a towel to wipe machine handles or place over seats in the gym, don’t use it to wipe sweat off your hands or face - there’s a danger of picking up other people’s germs. Use separate towels for your body and the equipment.

To avoid the spread of fungal infections, don’t use a towel that’s been used on your feet or underarms or had contact with the floor. Wash gym towels after every use at 60 degrees - or 40 degrees with a bleach-based powder.

“Please wipe down the equipment”: We all have seen this sign, but do we really wipe after each use? Well now more than ever your life depends on it! Recent investigations have revealed after testing local health club equipment; high levels of staph, fecal matter, molds, and other germs were found in visually clean facilities. Don’t assume that your gym is clean because they have commercials on tv. You have to always assume that germs are present and do what you can to protect yourself.

Should I just avoid the gym? One should not use the germ phobia excuse as reason to skip the gym as a whole. Being forewarned is being forearmed. When it comes to protecting yourself and your immune system from these grimy germs, all it takes, for the most part, is common sense, meaning, don’t touch your eyes, ears or nose while at the gym. Good hand hygiene is a must, making sure to wash hands thoroughly before and after gym use. By attending the gym regularly you’re likely to have a stronger immune system than someone who does not work out, therefore, you can resist germs better than the general population.

You are also less likely to have an infectious disease to pass along to a fellow gym rat. By taking simple steps like these we not only are protecting ourselves, but others around us.

Gym etiquette is no longer just restacking weights and allowing someone to work in with you on sets, but now it is wiping the perspiration drops you left on the head rest and refraining from spitting in the water fountain.

So next time when you see the laminated sign, “Please wipe down after use” staring at you as you approach the treadmill or hit the mats for some abdominal crunches,

Staphylococcus, HPV, Super Germs, Infections, Germs in the Gym, Hygiene, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Gym Safety

For those of you who are fascinated by obesity myths this article by Gina Kolata is a good read. She deconstructs the factors responsible for obesity-it’s not just calories and exercise. It’s your DNA, the conditions you were exposed to when you were in your mother’s womb and a whole lot of other factors.

Check out America’s Biblical Health Coach Jordan Rubin’s(author of best-selling books such as The Maker’s Diet and The Great Physician’s Rx for Health and Wellness) health formulae in his three new titles-The Great Physician’s Rx for Arthritis, The Great Physician’s Rx for High Cholesterol, and The Great Physician’s Rx for Heartburn and Acid Reflux.

Thought only girls were anorexic? Catch I’m a Boy Anorexic on the BBC, slated for Sep 9.

Marcia R. Babcock is a Ph.D, MBA, Nia Black Belt Instructor, Tai Chi Instructor, and Reiki Master. She decided to do a guest blog for me and in this two part series she discusses the newest trends in fitness and explains why fitness can suddenly be more fun and successful for You.

In summary, the Principles of Holistic Fitness are:

Awareness of our complex nature of having physical, mental, emotional and
spiritual aspects

Deciding that you want to achieve these: Joy, Satisfaction, and Fullfillment

Making the right choices to attain these goals

Today Marcia elaborates on awareness. That is a difficult concept to understand and Marcia explains it so that we can understand.

AWARENESS:

The term holistic comes from the Greek word holos meaning all, entire, total. Thousands of years ago, Aristotle described this as “The whole is more than the sum of its parts”.

As human beings we are coming to admit to ourselves that we are more than just a body with a brain attached; we have emotions and beliefs and goals and aspirations that DO affect how we think, feel, sense, and live in the world and at the same time affect our health, fitness, sense of well being, satisfaction and joy.

If our goal is fitness, why should we ignore our basic complex nature? We can use the emerging concepts of holism to redesign the way we think about our physical bodies to achieve a state of vitality and sense of well being.

A holistic approach recognizes that each person is made up of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects. These aspects are interconnected and balanced. The health and wellness of any one aspect will directly affect the others. So now, the focus of fitness is the whole person, not just the physical body with an obedient(or not)mind attached.

The idea is to change the approach from just following a set number of reps and heart rate values to learning how choices, actions and attitudes affect our present condition, and also understanding how we can be active participants in the process of building a strong and vital body , allowing us to function with joy and ease in our lives.

Tomorrow Marcia elaborates on Joy and the Choices that Holistic Fitness involves. Please visit her website www.bodyenergetic.com

A family friend suffered a stroke a few weeks ago. He’s okay now but what worried the doctor was his age. He’s just 37. More and more young people are suffering from strokes today and the reasons are the same: sedentary lifestyle, smoking, unhealthy diet and stress.

A stroke happens when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or bursts. Nerve cells in the brain die when deprived of oxygen which is why getting a stroke can debilitate.

The most important thing in treating a stroke has to do with timing, Getting to the hospital at the right moment is essential. Being aware of stroke symptoms is also a must.

Also read How To Prevent, Recognize And Find Hospitals To Treat Strokes

stroke

Many Type 1 diabetic women suffer from Diabulimia…that’s a condition when you skip your insulin injections just to keep off the weight.

This dangerous trend is becoming a huge problem and just goes to show how much losing weight has become embedded in the psyche. Diabetics who do this risk a chance of coma and even an early death from diabetes-related complications.

Type 1 diabetes happens when your body’s immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas . Without insulin your body will not receive the glucose it needs to survive and your cells literally starve.

If a diabetic forgoes shots, he/she will lose weight and have high blood sugar. That could damage the kidneys and have other implications that could make life so difficult. Before diabetic teens skip insulin to lose weight, they have got to understand that they could be losing more than just weight.

diabetes, diabulimia, anorexia

Dogs seem to be able to sniff out cancer. I read somewhere about how a pet dog kept hovering around a mole his owner had developed. The mole turned out to be cancerous.

Dogs seem to have been trained to recognize and flag bladder cancer. With a 41% success rate, dogs can recognize a cancerous urine sample by just smelling it. This is great news as a lot of times, cancer is not detected until it’s far too late.

It’s believed that even diabetes can give itself away in the breath as does cancer. So the next time your dog is sniffing you could be having one of those medical check ups. And maybe your pet can save your life!

Read how researchers are training dogs to detect disease.

cancer, dogs sniffing cancer

There are trigger mechanisms all around us and these affect the way we eat and live.

1. Surroundings Trigger:You could stop mindless eating by being aware of what you are eating and where you are eating it. That means you sit at the dining table and eat, not munch mindlessly in front of the television, computer screen or while you read a book. Good food for thought by Mark.

2.Food triggers and Health:Tackling food triggers is a good idea as it could put an end to obesity problems. It could help migraine too. Ever noticed how some foods can start that head throbbing sensation….so what’s the solution? Eat in moderation and eat sensible. You might be able to battle your headaches with a good diet Stay away from chocolates sundaes, MSG and salami to stall those headaches. Read this fantastically researched article for more.

Emotional Triggers:Definitely a diet alone is not enough.According to Maria, finding your emotional trigger is as important as cutting down on binge eating. What makes you lose track of your food habits? It’s not just the food trigger; it’s in your emotional trigger mechanism as well. Stay away from emotions that ruin your diet plan.

food trigger, emotional trigger, diet, weight loss, migraine

“I really need some how to get some sleep tips. I hate to stay awake all night and feel crappy in the mornings.” says one of my readers.

When I talked to her, I realized that she had a lot of underlying stress and uncertainty about her future. Sleep deprivation is a common affliction of people who have a lot of pressure either at home or the work place. Sometimes sleeping pills are the only solution but before you opt for that, visit your doctor and try to make some lifestyle changes.

1. Follow a routine. Being erratic can create problems.

2. Don’t binge-eat before bed.

3. Keep your room as dark as possible and make sure that other family members respect your privacy. No banging doors in the corridor or loud blaring T.V.

4. Indulge in a daily exercise routine. Physical tiredness helps.

5. Follow these valuable tips if you work shifts and lose out on valuable sleep.

6. Meditation can help relieve stress and soothen your sleep.

sleep disorders, night shifts, meditation, exercise, insomnia

Eating meat contributes to global warming. Surprised?

1.According to reports from the FAO of the U.N, the livestock sector contributes to greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. These gases when in excess retain the heat in the atmosphere and cause rise in temperatures.

2.Cow manure and flaulence are an important source of methane gas. Talk about fart pollution!

3.The livestock sector also uses plenty of water and contaminates it too by way of excrement, hormones and other waste.

4.The entire world is opting for unhealthy food choices and so meat production is sky rocketing. Although no one wants to say it, the truth is going vegan is not about being picky or anorexic or diet-fashionable. It’s about going green.

This story is a must-read.

diet, vegetarianism, anorexia, green, pollution, U.N

I liked this post Obesity: Fact and Fiction on the blog The- F-word.org.

“Martin poses a provocative question: with its proven high failure rates – a 97 percent recidivism rate, according to Susie Orbach – and overall ineffectiveness (as well as the health risks yo-yo dieting poses), can the diet industry be prosecuted into warning labels and public education efforts the way the tobacco industry has been?”

That’s an interesting question. The diet industry has many takers. You can’t blame manufacturers for coming up with more and more diet products, considering how obese the population is becoming. And yo-yo dieting could lead to eating disorders which could lead to body image perception problems then causing mental health and social ostracism issues. Everything is so viciously connected.
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