Nutrition and Fitness

Add a Comment

Comment by Ed Diaz on January 8, 2009 at 12:30pm

STARTING AN EXERCISE PROGRAM:
If you are serious about altering your body, there are a couple of areas to look at. Does your body have any medical issues that affect you or require treatment or medication?

What physical activities do you enjoy to do? Which ones do you not enjoy? Be honest!

What do you want your body to look like and why? Be specific.

GENERAL THINGS BEFORE YOU START:
1) Start to read, research, learn about nutrition, food, how your body uses food, what types of food are good/bad, how to make meals you would enjoy yet are good for you. Keep a daily journal of your meals/exercise, and be honest, make this a hobby! This is sooooo valuable!

2) Learn about the different types of exercise and if you’re the type of person that needs to see things first hand, get a trainer if only to show you how key exercises are done. Then become a student of exercise and like nutrition, read and learn. If you have the funds for a trainer great! If you don’t just learn as you go and use a trainer only when you need to overcome barriers.

3) “STOP” using weight as a measure of health, it’s “NOT”! There are other measures that are more important to track your progress. One simple thing to do is to take girth (circumference) measurements of key parts of your body i.e. Arm, chest, abdomen, hips, thigh, calf. Do this every month and note in your journal. Just so you know the first thing a “good” trainer will do is conduct a thorough assessment that will include several pages of fitness parameters. You can use these as your “starting point”.

4) “STOP” thinking there is a quick fix to making you look thinner or muscular, there’s “NOT”! Bottom line is that the fix is really free, if you are patient!


HERE IS THE SECRET:
Learn about food & nutrition – Learn about exercise & rest.
Eat good balanced frequent meals, workout at least 3 times per week,
and get quality sleep every night!


If you would like a beginner’s workout or need additional information, just email me!
I send regular emails to friends and clients and will send them to you unless you let me know you are not interested.

Ed Diaz - NPTI CPT, NC
PhyEd@yahoo.com

Comment by Ed Diaz on January 3, 2009 at 8:06am

Rick:
Have you incorporated the nutrition items we discussed last week?

Comment by Ed Diaz on December 25, 2008 at 9:26pm

Good Nutrition will Help Reduce the Risks of Colds and Flu
Lifestyle Suggestions
Yes, your diet really reduce your risk of catching a cold or influenza1? Nutrition expert Lisa Hark PhD, RD2, director of the Nutrition Education and Prevention Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, certainly thinks so. Dr. Hark explained to me how diet and other smart lifestyle choices will help you to avoid the sniffles, stuffy nose and aches of the cold, as well as the outright misery of influenza.
According to Dr. Hark, food and healthy lifestyle choices boost your immune system, and that can prevent you from coming down with colds and flu. The key is not waiting until you get sick to make these changes; you need to revamp your diet and lifestyle before the cold and flu bugs get to you.
Here are Dr. Hark’s tips:
Rely on Real Food, Not Vitamins
Foods are better than dietary supplements for the prevention of colds and flu because you get the whole nutritional package. For example, Dr. Hark points out, eating an orange is better for you than just taking vitamin C because the orange offers you a combination of nutrients -- magnesium, potassium, folate, vitamin B6, and antioxidant3-rich flavonoids.
While we know that vitamin C is important for a healthy immune system, studies don’t show that taking massive doses of vitamin C helps to prevent colds and flu at all. However, we do know that eating fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C will help to keep your immune system strong. Your immune system is what protects you from viral infections, and the foods you eat have a major impact on your immune system’s ability to fight off colds and flu. The reason that fruits and vegetables do a better job of keeping your immune system ready is because they also contain vitamins A and E, as well as the flavonoids that work along side vitamin C to keep your immune system and your whole body healthy.
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
So now that you know you need to eat lots of fruits and vegetables to keep your immune system strong, the next step is to actually make it happen. People tend to eat fewer fruits and vegetables in the winter, which is the opposite of what you should be doing. Everyone needs at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day to get adequate vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants -- all things we need for a healthy immune system.
One way to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables is to incorporate juice into your diet. Not just any juice will do, though. Make sure you choose 100% juices, as other juice drinks contain extra sugar and empty calories. You can learn more about the benefits of 100% juice at the Florida Department of Citrus website4.
For the best prices, be sure to browse your grocery store's produce aisle for fresh fruits and vegetables that are in-season. Oranges and grapefruits are usually cheaper in the winter, so cold and flu season is the perfect time to load up on citrus fruits.
Dr. Hark assures us that eating frozen fruits and vegetables is another economical and convenient way to improve your diet and prevent colds and flu. Frozen vegetable selections range from very inexpensive bags of basic peas, corn and green beans to artfully combined fruits and vegetable dishes topped with delicate sauces that you simply pop in the microwave.
Make sure that fruits and vegetables are part of every meal. You can add berries or a sliced banana to your whole grain cereal at breakfast and drink a glass of 100% orange or grapefruit juice. Pack a bunch of grapes or an apple with your sandwich for lunch, and top that sandwich with tomato slices, avocado, sprouts and lettuce. Start dinner off with a salad or vegetable soup, or serve a big salad as a healthy dinner. Keep a bowl of oranges, apples and pears on your counter top to grab as quick snacks.
Keep Up Your Healthy Diet
While you want to focus on increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat, don't forget to choose other healthy foods to supply nutrients your immune system needs. A healthy balanced diet with lean meats, fish, poultry, low-fat dairy, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds provides your body with all of the nutrients you need for general health. A healthy body tends to have a healthier immune system.
Protein sources such as lean meats, dairy, eggs and legumes are especially important because they supply the amino acids that your body needs to build the components of your immune system. Lean meats also contain iron and zinc; deficiencies of these minerals can depress your immune system.
Of course, avoiding unhealthy food is important too. Stay away from excess sugar and unhealthy fats, such as saturated fat and trans fats. Dr. Hark suggests being prepared by keeping healthy snacks handy so you won’t be so tempted to eat less healthy options. Try dried fruit or trail mix.

What If You Do Get Sick?
Good nutrition is still important if you catch a cold or influenza. Dr. Hark says that even when you are sick, you need to eat when you can. Focus on getting three meals per day, and don’t forget to keep eating lots of fruits and vegetables. It is important to get enough energy from the foods you eat while you are recuperating -- you may not be running around and exerting much, but your body is working hard to get better. Hark also stresses the importance of preventing dehydration. Drink fluids throughout the day such as water and 100% juices. Tired of plain water? Add a splash of juice to water or seltzer for a little variety.

What Else You Can Do to Prevent Colds and Flu?
Eating a healthy diet is just part of the picture. Dr. Hark has other tips to help you stay healthy:
Wash your hands. Your hands come in contact with germs throughout the day. The best way to get rid of them is by washing your hands thoroughly. This is an important part of food safety, too. Wash your hands before preparing meals, after handing raw meats and before serving foods. Make sure everyone at the table has washed their hands, as well.
Get enough rest. The National Sleep Foundation5 tells us that most kids don’t get enough sleep, and many adults don’t either. When you don’t get enough sleep, you are more likely to get sick.
Get your flu shots. Dr. Hark says that it doesn't matter whether you are young or old, getting a flu shot6 is a good way to prevent the flu. Vaccination is even more important for the elderly and people with respiratory conditions.
Get some exercise. There is strong evidence that people who exercise don't get sick as often. Exercise is important all year, even in the dark and cold of winter. Dr. Hark suggests having a plan to keep active in the winter, such as walking on a treadmill, using exercise videos, jumping rope, or going to the gym. And don’t forget to bring your workout gear when you travel; many hotels have workout rooms and swimming pools.

Comment by Rick Palacios on December 19, 2008 at 9:39am

OK ED, ill try and get thos forms out to ya. maybe i can get my running chasing after Jessica...lol jk jess. lol

Comment by Rick Palacios on December 19, 2008 at 9:38am

WOOHOO rain, snow, ice..... i just love it... ok ok so im a liar..lol least i can get a good indoor workout.

Comment by Jessica on December 19, 2008 at 9:34am

I love running outdoors, but this weather doesn't make it appeling anymore, any suggestions?

Comment by Ed Diaz on December 18, 2008 at 9:16pm

Rick:
Plenty of time and don't worry about cardio. You will burn more fat just doing resistance training! Remember 1 pound of fat burns 3 calories per day and 1 pound of muscle burns 50 calories per day. Its actually better to do one or the other (cardio or weight training) not both. The nutrition aspect of this plan will be the most critical aspect. Get those forms to me when you get them completed, don't worry about to many details this needs to be fun not a drag, OK?

Comment by Ed Diaz on December 18, 2008 at 9:13pm

Marie:
Yes a partner could help, but there are many fronts you should work with. Do you have someone that would workout with you, be a positive force, be consistant?

Comment by Marie Castro on December 18, 2008 at 7:12pm

I wanna get fit enough to one day do a marathon or triathalon someday, I like staying and being fit I just am not so motivated by it. I need a partner, a buddy.

Comment by Rick Palacios on December 18, 2008 at 11:54am

Starts jan 5th with the weight in and finishes 27 march. remember my cardio doesnt exsist. so that what im striving for, running and eatting well. gonna hate not workin on the free weights. but im sneak them in..lol

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last