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WOMEN'S SPORTS NEWS

The Olympics are coming! The Olympics are coming! The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896, the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games. In 2004, the Olympic Games will return to their origins when Athens hosts the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad from August 13-29. The Paralympic Games will be held from September 17-28.

For those of you who can't get enough of the Olympics on TV, all 28 sports will get airtime this year. NBC, the television host of the Games, will spread more than 1,200 hours of coverage across fellow networks MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network, Bravo and Telemundo (who will provide Spanish language coverage).

The opening ceremonies will air on Friday, August 13 at 8:00 p.m. Four women's wrestling events have been added this year for the first time. Wrestling is a growing women's sport, with more than fifty countries sponsoring national teams, and according to the USA Wrestling Association, almost 4,000 high school girls competing at the varsity level.

The women's saber event will also be added to fencing for the first time.

Boxing and baseball are now the only Olympic sports remaining with no women's events.

In the Paralympics, women will compete in judo and sitting volleyball for the first time.

For more information about the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games, visit the official website at www.athens2004.com.

For more information on women's wrestling, visit USA Wrestling at: www.themat.com and click on "Women" at the top of the screen.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BODY ELECTRIC!

Time flies when you’re having fun, as they say, and seven years have “flown” by since the birth of Body Electric!

Seven years have passed since our first Buzz, our first Body Electric Athletic Scholarship, our first commitment to getting women and girls active in Santa Barbara. We now serve over 400 women and girls a year through our work, and over 1,300 people receive The Buzz.

Just like any other birthday girl, we like cake and presents! We’ll provide our own birthday cake, and here’s our wish list if you’d like to make a gift:

• Underwriting and silent auction items for High Five! Celebrity Waiter Dinner
• Sponsorship for The Buzz - can be bimonthly or annual
• Digital camera
• Adobe Pagemaker 7 and Illustrator
• QuickBooks and add-on for Nonprofits
• Office supplies, especially inkjet printer cartridges
• Printing
• Volunteers

TIPS FOR FEEDING THE TEAM

Adequate Carbs!

With the latest low-carb trend it can become difficult, to say the least, to figure out what you should be eating, especially if you are an athlete! When you exercise, your muscle burns a type of carbohydrate, called glycogen, for fuel. To keep these important fuel levels optimal for peak performance, we must eat a diet rich in whole grains, beans, potatoes, and other high-carbohydrate foods. You can’t produce optimal glycogen stores with a high protein/low carbohydrate diet.

Go for the whole grains, such as 100% whole wheat breads, brown rice, quinoa, or millet. Limit the “white” refined products.

Protein

Yes it is true, active people need more protein than the average person. It is especially important after our workouts to repair muscle damage.

Include lean meats, fish, soy, nuts, beans, and/or eggs. Athletes need about 2-4 three-ounce servings a day.

Eat Your Fruits and Veggies!

When you exercise, you breathe harder, taking in more oxygen. While you need oxygen to support life, it can become unstable in the body. Unstable oxygen can oxidize and damage your muscle cells, which can bring on inflammation and soreness. You can protect yourself from oxidation by eating healthful amounts of antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables.

Eat at least five servings (altogether) of fruits and vegetables a day!

Drink, Drink, Drink

The more you exercise, the more you sweat. Replacing these fluids is vital for peak performance and endurance. During long workouts you may need a sports drink that contains carbohydrates and electrolytes.

Drink at least 8-10 servings of fluids/day.

Fueling Before A Workout

This step alone will not only lengthen your workout but it will also increase your performance, which is key when playing a sport. If you don't eat before exercise you will likely feel light-headedness, fatigue, and nausea. When you don't eat before a workout, your body turns to muscle protein for fuel because it doesn't have enough carbohydrate. By starting your workout well-fueled, your body will burn a combination of the carbohydrate stored in your muscles and stored fat.

Eat 2-4 hours before a workout or event. Choose a high carbohydrate, low fat, moderate protein meal or snack. Drink at least 10 ounces of water to help offset sweat loss during your workout.

Fueling After A Workout

It is important to consume calories and fluids during the first half hour after you exercise for optimal recovery. If you aren’t hungry right away, a quick snack will do.

Drinking a sports drink or 100% fruit juice will do the trick! Don’t forget to eat a meal later with protein to repair muscle damage.

By Meri Raffetto, RD
Real Living Nutrition Services
www.reallivingnutrition.com

KIRA'S JOURNAL

Part four in a series, the following is an excerpt of the journal of Kira Anthofer, a former collegiate and professional athlete who is working toward health and fitness of body, mind and spirit.

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 their daily endeavors, and perhaps decide to try something new and challenging yourself!

Have you seen those commercials on TV about cholesterol? The man walks by everyone he meets and announces, “I’ve lowered my cholesterol.” Well that is exactly how I feel today. But I say, “I’ve lost 15 pounds.”

That’s right. No seesaw stories this time from me. Progress! I created a chart to show my progress every five weeks; my numbers will follow at the end of my journal. Don’t cheat; keep reading until you get to the end.

I last left you on April 23rd. . . .working out and eating well. My nutrition plan since I started working with the trainer has been light on the carbohydrate intake. I would also do protein-only days.

May 1st- I traveled to Phoenix to take my sister to a private bridal shower. Just the two of us at a fun resort. I was so proud of myself. I worked out all three days and I allowed myself to indulge on one night of just pure food fun. Gotta celebrate once in awhile.

May 5th - Measurement day with my trainer. It has been five weeks with my concentrated efforts on nutrition and fitness. I lost a total of 10 1/2 inches over my entire body. I was so happy! The saying goes: it's not only the pounds on the scale but it's also the inches off the body.

So what did I do? I went out and bought a pair of bright red Capri pants. It was not my typical move to buy such bright clothes in my former body image self. But the new image is getting back to the outgoing Kira.

My trainer is calling my transformation "The year of the Babe." I like it!

May 11th - Last night of Artist's Way class. We had to create a collage of our current and future goals. I created a collage that included work, travel, fitness and romance. That has been another benefit to my lifestyle change: the air around me wants romance. It's just a matter of getting an interested party, but for now I am enjoying the fact that I am open to romance. I'm more comfortable with myself.

May 20th - Old habits creeping up. I haven't done my cardio workouts for the past two weeks. I lift as always, but I'm slacking on the cardio. The scale has not budged since May 5th. This doesn't make me happy.

May 29th - I promise to run on the treadmill at least twice this week and to power walk with my dog on Saturday.

June 7th - I did as I promised. But I'm not following the nutrition program as well as I should. Week ten measurements are coming up next week. I've had guests visiting me every weekend. I generally watch what I'm eating, but I'm not as strict as I was in my first five weeks.

I'm also avoiding stepping on the scale. If I avoid it, it won't hurt me.

Aside - Work has been difficult. Lots of transitions occurring the past couple of weeks. Staff quitting and residents leaving. This happens in my business. But still affects my general psyche.

June 16th - Week ten measurements. Total weight lost so far: fifteen pounds, and 18.25 inches lost all around. I also lost 2% body fat! I am so pleased. Now if only I ran a little bit more and was stricter with my nutrition. But this inspires me to focus on the next five weeks.

Little goals help me with the overall project - The Year of the Babe.

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