Monday, April 13, 2009

Medical Reasons to Exercise

(List courtesy of The Medical Hospital in Houston):
1. Exercise helps keep arteries flexible and malleable for heart disease and heart attack prevention.
2. Weight reduction can reduce blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol--all contributors to heart disease.
3. Exercise inhibits fat growth around the midsection, which contributes to diabetes, "Angry, dynamic" belly fat is also linked to damaged blood vessels, heart disease, liver disease and Alzheimer's disease.
4. Exercise is a drug-free antidressant.
5. Exercise can be social, which has been shown to improve general happiness.
6. Strength training improves bone density, which helps prevent osteoporosis.
7. Strength and flexibility training helps protect the body against injuries druing activities of daily living.
8. Participation in group sports can help make improvements in hand-eye coordination and reflexes.
9. Exercise can help tone muscles and create a leaner appearance.

-Idea Fitness Journal March 2009

Monday, April 6, 2009

Gold Standard VS. Good Enough

Perfectionism MAY seem like a desirable trait, but to boost your health, some days we need to aim for "just enough"! Read some examples below and see where you fit in!

Diet:
Fruits & Vegetables
Gold Standard (G.S.): Up to 9 servings/day
Good Enough (G.E.): 5/day
Portion Sizes:
G.S.: measure everything you eat
G.E.: Size up grains and fats only
Hydration:
G.S.: Eight 8oz glasses of water /day
G.E.: Dringk water with meals and when thirsty

Other:
Sunscreen
G.S.: SPF 30 or higher several times/day
G.E.: SPF 15
Sleep:
G.S.: 8 hours/day
G.E. : 7 hours/day

-Prevention Magazine, July 2008

Thursday, April 2, 2009

FRIDAY: Beach Day!

See you at Wadsworth on Friday, April 3.

Where does the time go? We are completing week 3 of the March/April Session!!

Have you recruited a new "buddy" to join bootcamp?
It's a win/win for both of you!
See Jan or Nancy for more info.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Nutrition Tidbits from Health Magazine-April 09

Spring treats and the calories they contain:
2 Peeps Brand Marshmallow Bunnies: 65 calories
1 Spring Oreo with Yellow Creme: 54 calories
1 Coconut Egg, from a Godiva Eggstra Special Box: 64 calories
1 Dannon Light&Fit 0% Plus Blueberry Yogurt with 2TB fresh blueberries: 71 calories

Did you know your risk for heart disease climbs fast as you age?
Quick fix: go easy on salt, and fill up on potassium-rich foods, like bananas, spinach, and apricots. A new analysis in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that pairing these strategies can lower risks by up to 33%!