We’re not assigning blame to anyone who is afflicted with this disease. It’s important to note, however that most of the 366 million people afflicted suffer from Type 2 diabetes (According to The International Diabetes Federation) which is linked to poor diet, lack of exercise and obesity.
More and more a plant based diet is being recommended for those who want to take control of this deadly disease.
Taking control of your health is easier now than ever before. With support groups like this community you can talk to people, just like yourself who have reversed the course of this deadly disease and added vitality to their lives.
Stay connected to learn how to make your life healthier and more vibrant. Our members are living proof that you The Total Health Makeover WORKS !
With portions growing and obesity rates on the rise it’s encouraging to know that with a growing awareness positive changes are happening all over. Hotels are reporting that many travelers are becoming more focused on their health goals while on the road.
“Probably fitness equipment is the biggest request we get from guests,” said Vivian A. Deuschl of the The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. “It’s the biggest preoccupation of business travelers besides getting their work done, so we try to make fitness available on any basis they ask for.”
In room fitness options are available upon requests for guests who prefer not to work out in the hotel gym.
The Kimpton chain of boutique hotels has provided guests in-room 24-hour yoga channel classes and a basket of yoga gear since 2003, according to president and COO Niki Leondakis.
Leondakis believes the modern business traveler’s focus on wellness coincides with the aging of the baby boomers.
“Twenty years ago it was wine, dine and work, not about maintaining a healthy lifestyle on the road,” she said. “People today are looking at work/life balance in a more integrated way.”
Some weekends are too busy to get to the gym, especially if the gym is near your office, you’ve got company staying with you, or you’re out of town yourself. In the spirit of “no excuses”, here’s a suggestion for a 30 minute workout that uses no equipment and can be modified for all fitness levels. If you’re a beginner start with two reps. ( Gym rats can do double the amount, add in more difficult exercises and repeat the workout later in the day.)
1. Warm up for eight minutes. Walk in place, play tag with your kids, dance around the room. Just move.
2. Do one minute of squats.
3. Do one minute of push ups.
4. Do one minute of reverse lunges.
5. Do one minute of modified chair dips.
6. Do two minutes of cardio. (Go back to that dancing, running in place, whatever.)
Make your weekend count using a few simple tips and techniques that will set you up for success.
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– Get up within an hour or two of your weekday schedule. Oversleeping can make you sluggish and it will NOT compensate for too little sleep during the week.
– GET MOVING. Who says that socializing needs to be done over drinks and fried food. Meet up with friends for a walk, a run, a bike ride, water sports. Anything that keeps you active. This isn’t just good for your body…it’s good for your mind as well.
– Hit the grocery store at the start of your weekend so that you have healthy food on hand and don’t fall back on eating out for every weekend meal.
– Plan your upcoming week. A dress rehearsal in your mind will help you to enter the week with a plan of action. Make up a menu ahead of time. You don’t have to be married to it but having a starting point can save you a lot of scrambling later in the week.
– Ask for the “doggie bag” at the start of the meal. With portion size out of control you might think about eating only half of what’s on your plate but how often does THAT happen? Asking for the take home container at the start of the meal, and putting some aside then, can help your self control. Added bonus; Monday’s lunch is already packed!
– If you’re fortunate enough to be in an intimate relationship make time to celebrate it. A lot of time. Not a last minute afterthought. Make lovemaking the main event. Hot and steamy is good for your cardiovascular system, it boosts immunities, burns calories and helps you get a great night’s sleep.
Many women don’t want to build up their muscles (what the guys like to call bulking up), they want long, lean muscles, like ballet dancers have.
The thing is, to get those “toned” muscles, you have to do the same strength and resistance training that’s required for bulking up. Don’t panic, ladies – you don’t have enough testosterone to get the “bulk” effect. But you do need to do the same work.
Overall strength and resistance training will increase your basal metabolic rate (the rate at which your body burns calories at rest), thereby reducing your body fat content. And you need to reduce the overall body fat in order to see the muscle you’re building with specific exercises for specific muscle groups.
Here’s an example – you want toned arms. So you’ll do exercises to build and strengthen your biceps and triceps, but you’ll also work on reducing your overall body fat percentage with other exercises, so the fat on top of those muscles starts to melt away, showing off the muscles underneath.
Get moving! Now that school is starting, lots of gyms and community ed programs are starting their fall classes.
You may have heard about compound exercises or functional exercises, and how they’re supposed to be more beneficial than isolated exercises. But what does it all mean?
Compound exercises (or functional exercises) refers to exercise that simulates real-life activities and uses a wide variety of movements through a wide range of motion. They use multi-joint movements that work several muscles or muscle groups at one time, for example, squats engage the quadriceps (front of thigh), the hamstrings (back of thigh), the calves, the glutes (butt), the lower back and the core.
Isolation exercises work only one muscle or muscle group and only one joint at a time, for example, a bicep curl or the quadricep extension. These exercises are often done with weight machines, which can isolate one muscle group easily. Isolation exercises are frequently used in physical therapy to correct a specific muscle weakness or imbalance that often occurs after injury, illness, surgery or disease.
There are times when isolation exercise is exactly the right thing to do to regain fitness. Most of the time, however, you’ll benefit from compound exercises more. Fill your workout with squats, lunges, pushups, dips, pullups, and jumping rope. (And, you know, dance. Because it’s fun, and it uses a lot of muscle groups.)
Coach Robbie has been emphasizing daily walks as a health habit that crosses all cultures.
Getting outside in the fresh air is good, especially for all of us who work in environments where air quality (and temperature and humidity) are controlled.
While you’re outside, take a few minutes to play. Toss a frisbee, bounce a ball, shake a hula hoop, run around, skip to the corner, play a game of tag. Enjoy the air and the space and the free moments you’re creating.
Katrina and the Waves always make us want to stand up and move. Get moving now, and take a walk as soon as you can.
Stay involved in your child’s physical education classes at school.
Ask about the frequency of classes, the length of classes, the activities, class size and curriculum. Ask about the teacher’s philosophy concerning children’s fitness. While you’re at it, ask about recess – frequency and length, and what kids are able to do during that time. If possible, offer to help coach an activity you’re good at.
This is not just for parents. Community members are taxpayers, and their opinion matters, too. When we all (the whole village) demand excellence from our schools, our kids and our communities benefit. So get vocal about physical education, recess, and sports in your schools.
Remember burpees? Probably from gym class, unless you’ve taken a boot camp fitness class recently.
Burpees are … not our favorite thing to do. But they are effective, and they work a lot of major muscle groups, as well as calling on smaller muscles for stabilization. And they raise our heart rate, too, but we’re not sure that’s an intended benefit.
Start by standing with your feet a little wider than shoulder distance apart.
Squat into a frog-like stance, planting your hands inside your feet.
Jump your feet back, so you’re in a plank position (the “up” pose of a push-up).
Do a pushup. If you need to put your knees down to do a pushup, that’s okay. Make sure you have good form.
Jump your feet back up to your hands, so your knees are outside of your arms.
Stand up. (Or jump up.)
That’s one. (And one is a lot of work! But it’s working for you… for your body and for your health. Think about the benefits. Think about being strong and powerful.)
Start with three sets of eight burpees. Build up from there!
Foul weather – in this case, horribly hot and humid weather (alternating with thunderstorms) is no excuse for not working out. It’s just weather. It’s not a “not sure whether I want to” excuse.
Use the weather to help you mix up your routine. Walk on a treadmill, take a spin on a stationary bike, jog on a mini-trampoline, jump rope, or drive to your local mall for an indoor power-walk! The most important thing is to find an indoor option – or two or three – that you enjoy.
When the weather clears and the season changes, you want to emerge fit and fabulous, not flabby! Keep it up no matter the weather. Become your best!
