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The
following are articles taken from our bimonthly newsletter, The
Buzz. If you would like to subscribe to the electronic or hard
copy version, please e-mail
us.
Part five in a series, the following is a
continuation of the journal of Kim Reese,our stalwart board member
and reluctant exerciser.
With
our journal series we bring you the challenges and accomplishments
of an average woman: someone who, like all of us, balances a life
full of work, play, friends, family and occasional struggle.
We
hope you find inspiration in Kim’s daily endeavors, and perhaps
decide to try something new and challenging yourself!
October
16th — I walked today. I was going to do some steps too,
on the beach, but they were slimy and I had to pass. I didn’t
think of it quite as exercising because I walked with a friend
and before I knew it we had gone several miles. . . just my kind
of working out. . . where you don’t really even notice it.
I will say though that I found myself smiling. I’m glad I
started it up again. Today is a new day. I love that concept!
October
30th — I’m trying something new. I’m going
to REALLY listen to my body. I have, in the past, felt strongly
that there were days that my body just wanted to move. I haven’t
always listened but I’m going to listen now. I’m thinking
that it will put me more in tune with what I need and may help
me ease into exercising again. I did it yesterday and it worked
well; it felt good.
November
3rd — My birthday’s coming up and I would like for
this year to be a positive one for me, physically. I walked this
morning, feeling my muscles work the whole time. It’s a powerful
feeling.
WEEK
of November 6th — Julie’s been in town with her
friends and I haven’t gotten in quite as much as I had wanted
to. It’s ok though. THAT’S the huge lesson for me. I
am such a black and white person typically, with little room for
gray, and what’s been happening is if I don’t feel like
I’ve been doing the exercise thing PERFECTLY, I feel like
it’s all for nothing. . . big mistake. So, I’ve walked
a little bit and have been still listening to my body tell me
what it wants to do. It’s working.
November
14th — Tae Bo’d for the first time in quite a while.
. . and it felt SO fantastic! I was really in the mood for it.
I feel strong when I do it. . . strong and happy for myself. Again,
I’m listening to my body.
December
7th — I’ve been in LA working and have gotten my
butt up and walked, both by myself and with Alena. It’s interesting
to walk in the city versus out in the suburbs. The journeys outside
have consisted of long walks to the store for groceries and walks
out around the perimeter of a golf course, where everybody and
their brother is out doing the same thing! Remarkable. I’ve
enjoyed them all.
December
11th — Thinking about what this next year will have in
store for me. . . since the end of the month will be coming shortly.
I am devoted to continue to listen to what my body is telling
me. It’s working well.
I
have to admit that sometimes it yells “Get up!” and
I don’t listen. I conveniently ignore. . . but not always.
I am improving!! Got on the stair stepper today and really focused
on what muscles I was working. I have moments of being amazed
by my body, or anyone’s for that matter.
| T0
DIET OR NOT TO DIET? HEALTHY EATING IS THE ANSWER TO THAT
QUESTION |
Have
you looked at the New York Times Bestseller List over the past
few years? It is proof that Americans are obsessed with dieting
and weight. Not only are several diet books on the list, they
are at the top. All these books in some form or other deliver
the same message: they have all the answers to quick and easy
weight loss. If you’ve read any of these books and they sound
too good to be true, it’s because they are.
Before
starting on a diet, one should think about how long it took to
gain the weight they are now motivated to lose. It probably didn’t
happen overnight or even in a few months. Unfortunately, it will
take just as long to take it off, if you want to keep it off.
This means there is no magic, quick fix. When people experience
quick weight loss, it is mostly water. I can say this because
1 pound of fat equals 3500 calories. It would be physically impossible
to lose 5-10 pounds of fat in a week when that would mean a negative
calorie balance of 17,500-35,000 calories.
Aside
from what the top-selling diet books say, the bottom line is this:
weight is gained from excess calorie intake, not the types of
food you eat. It’s that simple; if you eat more calories
than you burn, the energy left over gets stored as fat. Our body
is like a complex machine, but our digestive system does not have
a brain. It doesn’t discriminate against any source of calories.
If there is excess fat, protein or carbohydrates in your diet,
it will all be stored.
The
high protein diet books like to contradict this and make you believe
that carbohydrates are the enemy and need to be avoided. Yes,
carbohydrates can cause weight gain, but again, its when they
are eaten in excess. Part of the problem is that our diet is so
rich in carbohydrate foods that it is very easy to consume them
in excess amounts. They also do not keep you satisfied as long
as protein and fat, which means you get hungry sooner. With a
high protein diet you are allowed to eat as much protein and fat
as you want, but on these types of diets you will ultimately consume
less calories. This is due to fat and protein tricking your body
into believing it is no longer hungry.
I
know it sounds very appealing to lose weight and not have the
hunger pains that come with most diets, but these diets also come
with long term health risks. These risks can include heart disease,
breast cancer and colon cancer due to the high intake of fat.
The
key to healthy, long-term weight loss is to have a negative energy
balance. A negative energy balance includes eating all foods in
moderation and getting adequate amounts of exercise. This will
allow your body to burn off those excess calories, regardless
of what types of food they come from, and allow for weight loss.
By
Michelle Fishman, R.D.
| BODY
ELECTRIC IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE OUR TITLE IX EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS! |
Title IX is federal legislation that was passed in 1972,
stating:
“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex,
be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of,
or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program
or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
The
law applies to sports inthe following ways:
- Women
and girls must be given equal opportunity to participate in
sports.
- Female
athletes must receive athletic scholarship money proportional
totheir participation.
- Female
athletes must receive equal treatment in the provision of supplies
and equipment; scheduling of games and practice times; travel
and daily allowance; access to tutoring, coaching, locker rooms,
practice and competitive facilities; medical and training facilities
and services; publicity and promotions; recruitment of student
athletes; and support services.
Title
IX has enabled girls to participate in education and sports at
levels unheard of before 1972. However, the vast majority of educational
institutions are still in violation of Title IX. Discrimination
may be more subtle than in the past, but girls are still affected
by lack of opportunity, particularly at the high school level.
If
you would like to learn how to advocate for equity and fairness
for your daughters, this workshop is for you.
For
information or to schedule a workshop in the Santa Barbara area,
e-mail us at bodyelectric@bodyelectric-sb.org.
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more articles in the Buzz Archives...
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