Tag health
Fitness As An Insurance Policy
One of the biggest challenges I face as a physician and fitness professional is convincing patients and clients that healthy eating and regular exercise serve as the best insurance policies in optimizing health and minimizing the risk of illness and disease. It is especially frustrating because I know first-hand that this is true.
I began weight training at the age of 21 to heal from my teenage bout with anorexia. Luckily, I was already practicing relatively healthy eating habits once I abandoned my starvation mission. I was not surprised by the fact that I loved weight lifting, how it made me feel, how it made me look, and how it made others look at me. It also empowered me and lifted me from the darkest period of my life, becoming my saving grace and an insurance policy for my health and well-being. I became intrigued with the world of fitness and quickly noticed the “can do” attitude that was so pervasive. At one point I had considered competing in the fitness division and had even looked into hiring a coach, but then I got sidetracked by medical training, marriage and then divorce. Little did I know then that I would finally hit the bodybuilding stage in my 40’s and eventually attain IFBB Professional Status.
I may be a freak of nature and blessed with decent genetics, but then again, maybe not. My maternal grandmother died of cancer at 63, and my maternal grandfather passed away at 81 of a heart attack. My mom suffered from a brain aneurysm rupture ten years ago and now battles high blood pressure, macular degeneration, and osteoporosis. In contrast, my blood pressure is at the low end of normal, and I have the bone mineral density of a 20 year old. My mother’s veins are very small and deep, while mine are huge pipelines which sit right under the surface of my skin. With that type of family history, I am thankful that I took charge of my own life as a young adult and made changes which protected my health.
Hopefully my story resonated with some of you and perhaps inspired you to take regular exercise and healthy eating seriously. Please do not wait until your health begins to suffer. Be proactive and preventative, especially if you have a family history of certain diseases. Revamp your eating habits NOW. Commit to a regular exercise program that incorporates resistance training. No more excuses!
Stacey Naito FitnessX Magazine Cover Model Interview
How To Avoid Post Contest Rebound
Please read my latest article for http://www.mensphysique.com by clicking on the link below:
http://www.rxmuscle.com/blogs/the-training-room-workouts-and-tips/10049-how-to-avoid-post-contest-rebound.html
Get Off The Hamster Wheel
There isn’t a single person I have interacted with lately who has been able to enjoy a respite from the frenetic life pace which seems prevalent. Honestly, EVERYONE seems to be frazzled, running from place to place, trying to get massive amounts of work done in a limited amount of time. After a while, the days seem to blend into one another and we may feel like we are running in an endless circle, very much like a hamster on a wheel. I know that feeling well and always think that I can somehow catch up. Alas, I never do. Yet the next day I start up again, hoping to finally catch up on every project, all the while knowing that it won’t happen.
What may send ripples of anxiety through people is the concept of stepping off the hamster wheel on a regular basis. I can already hear people saying, “What??? Don’t you know how much stuff I have to get done today?” Let’s be honest: there will ALWAYS be something on the to-do list that we feel must be done. But when we allow ourselves to take a break from the constant movement, we can finally be present and cause our weary bodies, minds and spirits to reset. When this reset occurs, we can tackle projects and work with renewed vigor. And though some of us may not believe this, taking a break will not result in a collapse of all that we have worked on. The work will be there when we are ready to return to it.
You may be asking if I practice this regularly, and I have to admit that it doesn’t happen nearly as much as I would like. But at least now I realize that the coach won’t turn into a pumpkin if I take a little break from the fast paced life I lead, even if the break is longer than a few minutes. Getting off the wheel also opens you up to new ways of thinking and new possibilities so that you can reach goals more effectively. Physiologically, it gives your overtaxed adrenal glands, cardiovascular system and thyroid a rest too, not to mention your nervous system, gut, etc. So give yourself a break!
Christie Brinkley At 24 And At 59
This woman is just as gorgeous at age 59 as she was at the age of 24. What an ageless beauty!
B-House Image From January 5th
I am listed as one of the special guests at the 2014 L.A. Fit Expo!
Hey now…this was a very pleasant surprise today! I am listed as one of the special guests at the 2014 L.A. Fit Expo under FITNESS ATHLETES/COMPETITIORS/MODELS! Such an honor! Please click on the link below to see my listing on the show website.
Many thanks to SWAT Fuel for featuring me! You are the BEST!
Finding Your Inner Goddess
It almost seems to be part of the female state these days to become wrapped up in the needs of others so completely that a woman’s needs and strengths are often neglected. Between having a full time job, children, a spouse or partner, and elderly parents to care for, there is little room for personal time. However, I am a firm believer in making time for oneself, regardless of whether you are a man or a woman. When a woman sets aside some time for herself every day, whether it is for a workout, manicure, massage, meditation, or a pleasant stroll alone, she recharges her spiritual batteries and finds her center. When this center is nurtured daily, it grows like a flower. The inner goddess is awakened, and because of this, a woman who does this is better able to cope with daily demands and is a better mother, partner, and daughter.
Women are natural multitaskers because we forced into that role, many times at a very early age. But the inner goddess is like the energy cell that serves as the main power source. I have seen women go through the motions with serving their loved ones, completely devoid of motivation, moving like automatons because that core energy cell is almost completely drained. Since we women are seen as nurturers, we should recognize the need to nurture OURSELVES.
I know that women have become keenly interested in competing in bodybuilding events in recent years because of this new awareness of the inner goddess. While I am not suggesting that every woman should elect to compete in a bodybuilding event in an effort to fortify the inner goddess, it’s not a bad idea for ladies who are considering such a journey. What these competitions do is shift the focus onto the woman, putting her in a position in which she MUST address her own needs. It is an interesting shift and I never tire of seeing the transformation which occurs as a result. It is almost like a lightbulb goes off in their heads and they suddenly realize how much they had neglected their own needs.
For women who have no desire to compete, I suggest taking up a hobby or class in something they have had a lot of interest in. The important element here is to set aside time for oneself on a regular basis and to recognize that it is NOT selfish to cultivate one’s own interests. You can still be superwoman and take care of your family, but take care of YOURSELF too.
Once you learn how to connect with your inner goddess, you will wonder how you ever survived without that connection.
