Fitness Adventures for EveryBODY

Becoming the Best You Can Be

“Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.”   Albert Camus

So, what are we? Can we make ourselves better? Smarter? Thinner? Can we overcome our shortcomings with one of the only factors that separate us from the animals with whom we share the earth?

Technology.

Or, will we continue to be blinded by our ‘natural’ inclination to consider ourselves superior, therefore immune to what is so substantiated by fact that it’s silly to think we ‘think’ any other way?

We are caught in our own denial system. A refusal to admit that perhaps the top of the food chain might merely be the top of a small mound of bias.

Cooking Up the Evolutionary Ladder

Heribert Watzke is a scientist at Nestle corporation in Switzerland who shares that the fact that we ‘cook’ moves us up a notch. He is working on foods that could overcome our natural inclination to obesity. Or anorexia. His work is based on research into the anatomy of our stomachs. The most amazing fact it that this organ contains millions of nerve cells, cells not unlike the neurons found in our brains. Hence, a dilemma or opportunity.  Learn about this at TED’s October release.

How do you overcome your shortcomings?

First, I think, is the action of admitting that they exist. Whether it’s cleaning out the closet, changing the way you approach money, deciding to smile more or getting rid of the ‘gut,’ it’s up to you.

Feeling Blue? Seeing Red? Try this Quick Remedy . . .

Feeling sad? Eating too much? Waking up during the night. Not sleeping?

Feeling blue, or in my case, purple?

This is depressing. In fact, according to an article by Shelby Scott, M.D., FACSM, “Worldwide, depression is the fourth leading cause of disability and costs billions of dollars in time lost and medical expenses.”

All right. So what? I’ll take  a pill. Wait. It’s September and my wonderful, oh so wonderful insurance plan doesn’t cover my RXs anymore (how’s yours doing? Have you checked or are you simply one of those who doesn’t bother to realize that your insurance company will step on you and spit you out like a shark).

So, what if I don’t want to take medicine? Even if I could afford it, the side effects are more frightening than the purple mood I’m in. In fact, they could cause me to see red!

Dr. Scott says  “Current studies in the non-pharmacologic treatment of depression are limited. Modalities studied that are likely to be beneficial include St. John’s Wort (an herbal remedy), non-directive counseling, and problem-solving skills training.” St. John’s takes a while. My counselor is out of town (and my insurance plan might keep this one for pre-existing conditions and bounce me later) and the skills training, eek!

I want something NOW. Fortunately there is something. Exercise seems to be the answer. All people who are depressed can benefit from a regular program of exercise, and the effect is positive whether the person exercises alone, in a group, in a pool, at a gym, or running on a track.

"Whatever the form of exercise, it will make all people stronger. As their strength improves, so will their ability to wake up and face another day. They will feel better able to manage life stressors. Exercising can help work through pent up anger and frustration and release negative energy. In the Melpomene survey, many women stated that they found exercise to be the best way to relieve the day’s stress and tension. They felt stronger and more energized. Exercise also gives one a sense of mastery and self efficacy. It affects the self so profoundly that exercising can help people to feel that they are taking control of their life."

Want more? Go to the source.

Let me know how you are doing. Check out what exercise looks like at my place.

The Power of Accidents

Brain cells need exercise, too. That’s why I am searching for little-known facts today. Facts. Yes. No spin, no hedging on the truth. Just the facts, please!
    Here’s one for you. True or false: The space suit was invented for use in space. Truth or false?
    Sometimes accidents can lead to avenues that point in other directions that end up nowhere near original intentions. We all know the story of Post-it™ notes and Wite-Out®. I have one of my own:
    Some time ago I had some problem with my blood pressure. Problem, heck, it was a major disaster. A matter of heredity, not necessarily lifestyle, I was stuck in the 200/90 range. Dizzy and unhappy, but at a loss as to what to do. My physician wouldn’t let me give up, but I was ready to.
    Until the price of gas 'accidentally on purpose' shot up to more than $4 a gallon. I have a 100-mile commute every day. I was forced to consider other means to get to work. I decided to try one day of riding my bicycle and using Cal Train and VTA LIght Rail in San Jose. There's a rate calculator on the train's Web site that lets you see how much money you can save with the train.
    The first day took me two hours, primarily because I did not know how to use VTA Light Rail The powers that be still do not coordinate the schedule with the ACE or Cal-Train commuter trains so it sometimes takes just as long to get from San Jose Diridon Station to the club at Camden and Kooser, as it does to get from San Francisco to San Jose.)
    I became very involved in the commute and after a while, resent having to point my hybrid down 280, but that’s another story.  I meet people from Apple, Google, Twitter, Adobe in the bike car on the train and get free advice all the time. My blood pressure has become manageable, down to a healthy 120/80 on many days. I still take medicine, but now it’s working because I am working it. I don’t particularly care how the oil companies manipulate the price of gas, except from a political standpoint, which I have to monitor as it still makes me steam!
    Bottom line: My blood pressure has a new bottom. As does my shape. I have new friends. My car has low mileage. All because of a set of circumstances that seemed impossible to overcome.
    Just as the invention of the first space suit. Invented by Siegfried Hansen for some friends of his at Litton Industries. The patent holder on an automatic hot dog roaster, stereo binoculars and a clock that spit out punch cards to remind him of tasks, “Sig” was looking for a way to test vacuum tubes for advanced electronics. He wanted to test the vacuum inside an actual tube, but needed a ‘suit’ that would let him breathe in a vacuum. The oversize tube was built. Sig developed the suit and voila, it worked. The Air Force heard about Sig’s uniform and adopted it for their new space program. Now, 50 years later, not much has changed from Sig’s original design.
    Invent something today. Use an accident if you have to. ,

Time Magazine Supports Couch Potatoes. Ouch.

The war is on. The Time Magazine article August 9, "Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin" has hit a raw nerve with Joe Moore, president and CEO of International Health, Racquetball & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), of which AVAC is a long-time member.

 Last year, IHRSA launched an initiative with the American Medical Association (AMA) that "Exercise is Medicine." Simple. Hence he has written a rebuttal to the article. I'll just pop it in here to you don't have to exercise your fingers any more than necessary.    

Before you go there, remember that you are not exercising to GET THIN. You are exercising to feel better, get your heart pumping, and, for some, just to be able to say "I worked out today. Did you?" Also, making love is an exercise, too. Maybe it might be a good idea to think about the consequences before saying exercise can't make you thin. It makes you think!

The following is a response to "Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin," an article published in the current issue of TIME Magazine.

The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) supports the 45.5 million American health club members and all others who exercise regularly in the pursuit of living a healthy lifestyle. IHRSA recognizes the daily struggle of many Americans in finding a balance of healthy eating and regular exercise, especially those seeking to lose weight.

However, in an age when overweight, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes are prevalent, it is more important than ever to engage in regular exercise, which research has proven can prevent such chronic diseases and is a key component to living a healthy, happy, and productive life. It is also vital that Americans have accurate information about exercise and weight loss based on science and evidence.

IHRSA fully supports the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Heart Association with their recommendations and guidelines.

Responding to the TIME Magazine article, John Jakicic, Ph.D., FACSM said, "The statement 'in general, for weight loss, exercise is pretty useless' is not supported by the scientific evidence when there is adherence to a sufficient dose of physical activity in overweight and obese adults." Jakicic chairs a committee on obesity prevention and treatment for the ACSM and helped write an ACSM Position Stand on strategies for weight loss and prevention of weight regain for adults. Jakicic continues, "There is strong evidence from the majority of the scientific literature that physical activity is an important component for initial weight loss."

For more information on ACSM's research and response to the article, please refer to ACSM's press release.

Regards,
Joe Moore
President & CEO