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January
2 , 2002
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Volume
2, Issue 1
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Welcome to all our new
subscribers, and I extend my appreciation to everyone who forwards
this newsletter to friends. One friend telling another is how we
grow, and I deeply appreciate your support. If you know anyone who
might like it, please send him or her this newsletter.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Greetings from the
Editor
2. Article- Keep Your New Year's Resolutions This Year
3. Article- Walk For Your Life
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Happy New Year! We are now starting 2002. What a wonderful feeling
to know that we can start fresh once again. This is not only a time
to plan on how we can improve ourselves and our lives, but also
a time to reflect about our past year.
We are able to think
back to how we got to where we are today and where we are headed.
We also can see what actions have been beneficial and which ones
have caused us to not achieve our goals.
One need not make a new
year's resolution, but one can think of goals they would like to
see happen this year, and then focus by making a list of actions
which may help them reach those goals. Making many short term goals
would be more realistic and you would not be setting yourself up
for failure. You may reach for the stars, but begin with baby steps.
Each success builds on your previous success.
I wish you all the success
you deserve! May this be a healthy and happy new year to all!
Wishing you fitness and
health,
Viveca Park
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When you're
too tired to go out to shop, shop online with hundreds of reputable
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Keep Your New Year's Resolutions This Year
(ARA) - Every year we tell ourselves that we're going to lose weight,
quit smoking and get in shape, and by mid-year, those resolutions
are tossed out the window.
Quitting smoking can be difficult due to the physical and mental
addiction, and you will need to address both aspects to be successful.
And since many Americans are sedentary or have developed bad habits,
such as eating when they're depressed, losing weight and exercising
can be the most demanding resolutions.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that
obesity is becoming more of a problem in the United States than
ever before. "In the United States, obesity has risen at
an epidemic rate during the past 20 years. Research indicates
that the situation
is worsening rather than improving."
The CDC also lists many conditions as health risks associated with
obesity, including:
* High blood pressure
* High blood cholesterol
* Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes
* Hyperinsulinemia
* Coronary heart disease
* Congestive heart failure
* Stroke
* Obstructive sleep apnea and respiratory problems
* Some types of cancer (such as endometrial, breast, prostate and
colon)
* Complications of pregnancy
* Poor female reproductive health (such as menstrual irregularities,
infertility and irregular ovulation)
* Bladder control problems (such as stress incontinence)
* Psychological disorders (such as depression, eating disorders,
distorted body image and low self esteem)
Add to this staggering list the deaths associated with smoking.
According to the CDC, 47 million adults in the United States smoke
cigarettes. Smoking is responsible for more than 430,000 (one in
every five deaths) deaths each year and kills more people than AIDS,
alcohol, drug abuse, car crashes, murders, suicides and fires --
combined.
If you've thought about getting in shape and leading a healthier
life, this is the time to exercise, lose weight and quit smoking.
You can keep those New Year's resolutions with simple steps and
help from the American Heart Association's (AHA) new book, "To
Your Health! A Guide to Heart-Smart Living."
The AHA's new book is an informative look at why fad diets don't
work, what does work, and success stories to keep you motivated.
Acting as both a guidebook and workbook, "To Your Health!" concentrates
on four steps that simplify making life changes:
* Taking stock of your life
* Discovering what you really want
* Uncovering your personal barriers
* Starting a simple plan you can live with, Rebecca Mullis, Ph.D.,
head of the University of Georgia Food and Nutrition Department,
explains that we most often fail to keep resolutions when we use
the wrong tools.
"Every one of us
has our own unique ways to succeed," said Mullis. "We
have to find something we can and want to do to get ourselves moving
in the right direction. Telling people who don't like broccoli that
they have to eat it will guarantee that they fail eventually. This
book doesn't give concrete rules, it's about choices."
Whether it's breaking
through the 10 biggest exercise excuses, discovering eight reasons
to lose weight and 10 secrets to keep it off, or beating the 14
most common smoking triggers, there are tips to help conquer every
vice. Along with tips, each chapter features self-tests -- quizzes
that help people discover what causes them to backslide and what
can drive them to succeed.
One man's lifelong struggle
with weight loss expresses the most important point about taking
control of your life and making it a healthier one. "I -- and
I alone -- am responsible for my size," says Ralph, an overweight
child and obese adult. "I determine my own fate."
You can lose weight,
start exercising and quit smoking if you want to make those choices.
"To Your Health!" will help you to stay focused and succeed
in your health goals.
"To Your Health! A Guide to Heart-Smart Living"
is available from general retailers and booksellers. For more information
about the American Heart Association, visit its Web site at www.americanheart.org.
Courtesy of ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com,
e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com
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If you don't leap,
you'll never know what it's like to fly."
~~ ' The Secret of Letting Go' ~~ Guy Finley
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WALK FOR YOUR LIFE
By Edel Jarboe
There is a common misconception
that walking is not exercise. A
lot of people believe that in order to be healthy and to lose
weight, you need to do high impact exercise. Luckily, this is
not the case. Studies have shown that walking provides great
overall cardiovascular fitness, reduces the risk of cancer and
heart disease, lowers cholesterol levels, lowers blood
pressure, helps alleviate lower back pain, and reduces the risk
of arthritis and osteoporosis. Walking also alleviates stress
and depression and improves your immunity as well.
Additional benefits of walking include stimulating creativity
and problem solving skills, as well as being used as a form of
meditation. Walking gives you the opportunity to be outdoors in
the fresh air and the chance to watch the seasons change. It is
also the perfect way to get away from phones, pagers, faxes, e-
mail, and other interruptions. And, in addition to all these
great benefits, walking is safe, easy, and cheap. What more can
you ask for? Get out there and start walking!
Getting Started
(Consult your doctor prior to starting any exercise program if
you are sedentary, a 40+ male, or a 50+ female.)
Stretch first to warm
up your muscles. You should concentrate
on stretching your torso, quadriceps, hamstring, gluteal
muscles (buttocks), calves, and Achilles' tendon (heel). Hold
each stretch for 15 to 30 seconds each, repeating at least once
for each muscle group and being careful not to bounce.
1. Wear loose fitting
garments
2. Always carry water
when you walk.
3. For beginners, walk
30 minutes a day 3 days a week,
gradually increasing to 5 days a week.
How to Walk
1. Start slow and easy,
at your own pace.
2. Push off from your
back foot.
3. Walk heel to toe with
a rolling motion of the foot.
4. Keep arms close to
body and bent at an almost 90 degree
angle to your body.
5. Hold your head high,
keep shoulders down and relaxed, chest
should be out, and eyes looking straight ahead.
6. Concentrate on breathing
evenly and swinging your arms
naturally.
Walking Gear
Shoes - Choose a comfortable,
lightweight shoe that has shock absorbers in the heel and in the
ball of the shoe. It should also bend at the widest part of the
shoe. The back of the shoe should be soft and contoured to help
your foot roll forward.
Socks - Wear white synthetic
socks or white synthetic/cotton blend socks because colored dyes
can aggravate athlete's foot. The heel and toe should be padded
and, to prevent blisters, there should be no toe seams. The center
of the sock should also have a tight weave to prevent bunching and
slippage.
Hat/Visor - Wear a hat
in the early morning hours to keep warm
and a visor on hot days to protect your face from the sun and
to allow the heat from your head to escape, keeping you cool.
Pedometer - for keeping
track of how many miles you are walking.
Calorie Burn Counter-
to help keep you motivated if you are
trying to achieve weight loss.
10 Walking Tips
1. If you don't have
a solid block of time, break your walking
into smaller chunks. For example, instead of walking 1 hour,
walk for 30 minutes twice a day. Studies have shown that this
is as beneficial as walking for 1 hour at one time.
2. Wear reflective clothing
at night and, if you must walk on a
road or street that does not have a sidewalk, always walk
facing traffic.
3. Incorporate hills
into your walking route. This adds variety
and challenge to your workout and raises your metabolism.
4. Interval train at
least 10% to get more out of your workout. Increase
your walking speed for 1 or 2 blocks and then slow back down o
your regular pace for the next 1 or 2 blocks. Continue to
alternate between walking and speed walking.
5. If you are walking
solo, listen to music or an audio book
but always make sure that you can still hear what is going on
around you.
6. Find a walking partner.
In addition to the companionship
provided, it will help keep you motivated as well.
7. Alternate your route
to prevent boredom. Take one route
every other day and another one in between. In addition to
neighborhoods try the beach, a park, or a trail.
8. Another way to get
more out of your walking routine is to
swing your arms more. This helps burn more energy and helps you
to walk faster. See power walking below for more information.
9. Add push ups, sit
ups, and weight training to your pre-walk
stretches to build muscle and strength.
10. Keep a log of your
time, distance, and calories burned for
motivation.
Copyright (c)
1999 by Edel Jarboe. All Rights Reserved.
About the Author: Edel Jarboe is the founder of Self
Help for
Her.com (http://www.selfhelpforher.com), an online self-help
magazine helping you create your better life. She also
publishes a free weekly newsletter, which features advice on
goal setting, stress management, coping with difficult people,
and overcoming obstacles: Subscribe
(mailto:subscribe@selfhelpforher.com) and receive a FREE stress
report.
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" Perseverance
is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th."
~~ J. Andrews
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" Commitment
is the igniter of momentum."
~~Peg Wood
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If you would like to
submit an article, or place an advertisement In this newsletter,
or if you have any questions or comments, send them to Editor@FitnessMotivatorNewsletter.com.
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