Don’t listen to this advice

I heard this advice given for the third time today and I just need to express how important it is that you don’t listen!!!! Yet another magazine quoted, “forgoing your gym membership,” as a way to save money during tough economic times.  STOP right there!

The last thing any of us need to do is stop taking care of ourselves. Studies, statistics, tried and true results show over and over again that we are better people when we are active, eating healthy and being socially interactive with others. Doesn’t a gym either provide you with this or prompt you do do this? The answer is yes!

Also economic stress tends to increase individual stress levels, which can contribute to poor health, mental attitude and performance. Exercise and good nutrition are critical to help combat the effects of stress and improve mood. Yet another reason to NOT forgoe the gym membership or personal training sessions.

Staying active, being supported, making progress and having an outlet to release your stress tension is what we all need during these rough times. Do yourself a favor and don’t listen to this ill-advice! If money is really tight and the gym is too expensive look at alternatives to keep you moving and motivated. Try finding a local boot camp, running club or other activity with a social aspect such as http://www.fitnessgatherings.com/bootcamp.htm or do a local google search to find something in your area.

Bottom line is you need to stay active to stay fresh, responsive and on top of your economic game. Don’t let the poor media advice influence you otherwise.

Keep movin’

Amy

Eating 101- The Best Diet

Once again another morning news program was showcasing proper nutrition and the best foods to eat for this and that. I am always impressed when I see good advice given out that follows optimal feeding protocols. It makes my job so much easier when I can refer to media morsels to show my clients/participants that what I’m saying really is true!

As I was watching the program I made an observation that I just had to share with everyone. Ever notice that the same nutrition advice is given out over and over again with a promo package? Whenver some new breakthrough in food is brought to media level attention it just spews out the same info: eat more organic/whole foods, whole grains, fruits, veggies, lean proteins, include some form of fatty fish, low-fat dairy and keep your foods in balance with your activity levels. That’s it! 

You’ll see it as: The Best Foods To Improve Your Mood, Foods That Fight Fat, Eat More and Still Lose Weight, 10 Foods That……..do something wonderful to your body and the list goes on and on. If you look at the underlying message it’s almost always the same. They’ve repackaged the ideas that we’ve been trying to stamp into your brains all along. 

The best diet is still eating wholesome foods that give your body’s the right amounts of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats and proteins for your day to day needs, and choosing proper portions to avoid weight gain. There’s the magic formula…..very simple eating 101.

How’s your Best Diet? Are you listening to the advice that yeilds results or do you continue to live in denial waiting for a magic diet plan you can live off of the rest of your life? 

Eat your fruits and veggies!!!

Amy

PS- look for my Optimal Nutrition E-Book coming December 2008

Jamaica Report

We had it all at Fit Beach 2008…fun, not so much sun, exercise, not such good food, heavy rain, high surf, tropical storm like weather and the threat of a hurricane during our last few days on the island. The conference itself was great- at least from my end of things- and my participants all passed their exams and are on their way to becoming certified personal trainers.

The food was not so wonderful, and left my stomach in such bad knots one day I thought for sure I wasn’t going to make it through my EEM workshop. Thankfully, it held off and I was able to work the participants up into a good sweat, teach them some new, innovative ways to move their bodies and bring out the sensual side of fitness. Not bad with a HUGE stomach ache.

Although the weather was tumultuous and unpredictable it gave me the opportunity to relax more, get into a really good book- Twilight by Stephanie Meyers- and appreciate all the opportunities that I was given across the week. I saw some of the most amazing sights from mother nature in the form of rain, wind, surf and fury and watched how it completely dissolved the next morning into sunshine, softness, calm sea and a sense of recovery.

It was as if there was illness that disrupted the ecosystem and it recovered, but was just a little scarred. Just like my stomach from the food, my workout routine from the trip and my house being left to kids and grandmas to care for. It all recovered, just a little scarring or residual effects, but all in all it worked out fine.

I’m taking it all in, appreciating the recovery and looking forward to what the scars bring me in the future.

To your health and fitness-Amy