All you women, lend me your ear, or eyes for a few minutes! I just found a great FAQ on “strong women,” that covers a whole conglomerate of questions you may have. Bottom line, we need more “strong women” in the world today, and by strong I mean, physically fit, healthy, low-disease risk, and higher life expectancy.
All these things are real, and tangible, and any of you can have them. Head over and check out the full FAQ on how to be a “strong woman,” but for now, here are a few of my favorite questions, and answers:
- How much calcium do I need each day? - For pre-teens and teenagers-1300 mg, for young adults-1000 mg, for older adults- 1200 mg.
- How can stress and depression have a physical impact on my body? - When stress and depression occur, women run the risk of doing immediate and long-term damage to their bodies, especially their bones. When stress and depression strike, calcium is turned over more quickly, not absorbed as much, resulting in the loss of calcium from the bones and body.
- I’d like to lose a few pounds, what is the safest way to do that? - The most effective way to lose weight and keep it off is to focus on your food intake and exercise levels…
Hi Ladies and Gentlemen, this post is a bit different, but I think it’s something necessary and exciting. Basically, I want to hear from you, all of you, any of you, my loyal readers, as to what you’d like to read more about on this blog!
So, feel free to drop any suggestions in the comments, and let me know if you’d like more articles on Diabetes, Obesity, Children’s Obesity, Weight Loss, Circuit Training, Hydraulic Resistance, whatever, you tell me what you’d like more information on, and I’ll do everything I can to make that happen!
I love writing this blog for Fit Express, and I’ve gotten a few emails that make me believe I’m doing a good thing here, so with that said, my aim is to please. I’d love to hear back from you, so don’t be shy!
You know, I hit you guys and gals quite frequently with some bad news on this site; scary statistics, wake-up calls and pleas for change. I just found something that isn’t like that at all, and heck, I’m gonna call it Good news!
According to the article I just read, surveys are now showing that physical activity is rising, a lot, in importance to the whole baby boomer generation. My favorite line from the whole article: “Of adults 44 to 56 years interested in active adult communities, 88% said they would be happier in retirement if they remained physically active.” Yes! Also, membership for people aged 35 to 54 has increased almost 15% since 1998. More people are catching the fitness bug, and it’s starting to spread.
So, baby boomer or now, I urge everyone to check out Fit Express. The options are limitless and with 30 minutes a day of hydraulic resistance circuit training you can change your body, and change your life. You can even make money with Fit Express by adding our hydraulic resistance equipment to your own existing gym, or opening a brand new Fit Express gym with your logo on the door and all the equipment. You can’t go wrong!
I don’t know if it will surprise you like it surprised me, but this statistic caught me off guard: Out of the 7.5 million veterans receiving health benefits from the Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services Departments, 70% are obese, and 20% have Diabetes.
70% of former soldiers are obese!? Wow. Apparently the VA doesn’t like those numbers either and as such, they launched a whole new campaign today against diabetes and obesity. Their plan is to promote the huge advantages of proper nutrition and exercise.
Now, under the program’s guidelines, “prescriptions for health” will be given out to each patient based on their weight and BMI that shows exercises and nutritional guidelines that are tailored for their health situation.
What a great idea, and I truly hope this works. Remember, for all you non-Vet’s, come to Fit Express for the best 30 minute hydraulic resistance circuit training exercise you could possibly have.
You know the old stereotype that obese people are just lazy, and don’t want to do anything to better themselves or get healthy? You know how so many people say it’s just apathy? According to a new poll done in Arkansas, one of the most obese states in the whole country, those old stereotypes don’t hold up anymore.
The poll, done by Battelle Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation, shows that in fact, 71% of obese Arkansas residents really would love to do something about becoming more physically active and improving their health…of those, 58% would like to do so on their own.
Here are some more surprising and informative stats from the survey…it just goes to show things aren’t always what they seem:
- 83% of adult Arkansans reported that they believe obesity to be a problem of poor eating and poor lifestyle habits
- 95% of respondents reported that it is important to urge all Arkansans to live healthier lifestyles — the message of the Healthy Arkansas program
- 54% of Arkansans expressed a strong interest in becoming more physically active
- 65% reported they want to increase their physical activity “on their own” as opposed to turning to other sources for help…
Maybe attitudes everywhere are starting to change. I wish we had a poll of the whole United States to see what attitudes are like nationwide.
This is just awesome; dozens of state Governors gathered in Washington this weekend for their annual meeting, this year they have a clear target…obesity and making changes in the “eating culture” our nation finds itself in.
Mike Huckabee, Governor of Arkansas knows firsthand just how important a change can and will be; according to the article I just read, 4 years ago he was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, and his doctor informed him that at 290lbs, he was sure to die an early death. Needless to say he knows that changes need to be made to help a lot of people rewrite their lives.
The bottom line is this, “Governors say states can guide people to healthier choices - and that they must to cut rising health care costs.” The Gov’s have more ideas too, and a lot of them are great ones, including some programs that are already in motion. Go read the full article and then come back to Fit Express and inquire how you can get started on the path to good health!
You know what is sad to me, and I hate that it gets to this, but when the pursuit of being thin and healthy goes way, way too far and into the realm of eating disorders. It breaks my heart when people see themselves in such a slanted way. Be it anorexia, bulimia, overeating, or whatever, it is so unhealthy when people can’t get a grasp on something as simple as eating.
As such, I just found an article that targets eating disorders, and more importantly, places to go if you, or someone you know might have one. Go read the article, but below are a number of places you can go:
This is fascinating and whoever thinks up these studies is a very unique person. According to newest research, the neighborhood an adolescent grows up in can have a clear cut influence on whether or not that person is obese. Apparently, the more close-knit the neighborhood, the less likely obesity will be a factor in their lives.
The article I just read says that,
“Close-knit neighborhoods exhibited strong collective efficacy—neighbors get along and are willing to help each other, and many adults are role models for adolescents.”
The higher the collective efficacy, the lower the rates of obesity; not only that, its levels also determine crime, premature death, cardiovascular disease, and other health related issues. The bottom line is this, with the obesity epidemic where it is, it’s time we start looking at as many factors as we need; if analyzing where we raise our children is one of them, it’s a small price to pay. Get those kids exercising, no matter where they live; take them to a Fit Express, go on walks, whatever, just do it.
I gotta be honest, I never know quite how to feel when the topic of obesity related surgeries come up. I know for some people they are a great beacon of hope when a lot of other things have failed, but sometimes I feel like they are a substitute for a lack in other areas.
Regardless, I just read that new federal regulations have been announced that provide expanded national standards for Medicare’s coverage of obesity surgery.
Whereas before, Medicare’s coverage varied greatly all across the nation, now, there will be a standard set of guidelines for who is covered for what, and why. My favorite part about the new guidelines:
“Medicare will not cover obesity surgery for patient who are simply overweight; they must also have developed complications as a result, including: hypertension, type 2 diabetes or heart disease.”
So, those of you that are simply overweight, don’t let it get to that dangerous point. Come to Fit Express and get into hydraulic resistance circuit training; 30 minutes a day on our circuit and your entire level of fitness and health will change.
Want a startling statistic? Of course you do, that’s why you’re here, well here you go: 90% of ALL Americans do not work out regularly and at least 50% of all Americans sit in front of a computer screen all day long. Wow.
Dr. James Levine, an obesity researcher for the Mayo Clinic knows this, and instead of just dealing with it, he made a change; a change that might just take off and spread! According to the article, “A year ago, he rigged his desk so he could stand and walk slowly on a treadmill as he reads e-mail, takes calls and works on his computer.”
How cool is that? Seriously. Levine believes that people should have the choice and opportunity to work while you walk or are active, and 10 other people, including the President of the Mayo Clinic now use a version of his “treadmill office.” With health care costs rising, obesity spreading, and people not getting near enough exercise lets hope this is a viable option that people across the United States and world can use!