Friday, October 29, 2010

Apple or Pear?

Our body types indicate many things about us. Yes we do inherit some things from our parents. Have you ever been told something like, " You have big bones like your aunt Helen"?

If you've ever seen the international art exhibit "The Body", you will be happy to find that our bones as females don't vary much. In fact we are amazingly similar. After gaping at the muscles and bones (along with the connective tissue that resembles nothing short of chicken grizzle!) in this human gallery for over an hour, I became convinced that we are all sisters.

Under all the hair, skin, curves, or lack thereof, we are amazingly similar. When I teach pilates exercises, I see beyond the covering into the excellence of each woman's body.

There are two body types that concern me. One is the woman with extra belly fat. I'm not referring to the loss of curves that occurs after menopause. When someone who is otherwise thin seems to hold weight in their abdomen that is an indicator of metabolic syndrome or pre diabetes. When we take in high glycemic carbs, insulin is over produced to protect our bodies from literaly being poisoned by sugar. Insulin is a storage hormone. Simply put it causes us to store fat in the most easily accessible area of the body, the tummy. Learning to keep you blood sugar balanced, and avoid this problem, is what I discuss throughout the blog.

The other red flag of health is the excessively curvy woman. This is a sign that one is estrogen dominant. Two main reasons for this are, eating to many of the foods that contain hormones, and taking animal estrogen like "The Pill".  One of the best remedies other than diet change is a regular cardio program. Have you ever seen a curvy runner? Another good one is adding more fiber. Elimination at least twice a day allows estrogen to leave the body.                                    

Now feel even better.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Don't Just Dive In!

When I meet with people for the first time, they are excited and anxious to begin dietary changes. They are a little surprised when I tell them I'd like them to wait for our second meeting before they officially begin.

Why? Because successfully changing behavior for the long term requires paradigm shifts in your thinking. The way you choose to think dictates success or failure. We begin with imagining your ideal healthy body (Settle down and enjoy this!). We get a journal and write out our goals in terms of how we will feel, and in present tense. For example, "I am so happy to walk into Macy's and try a size ten! I am so proud to buy it!"

As we place ourselves in that feel-good state, we begin to believe we can do it. We then write out clear goals which are our own. We cannot accomplish someone else's goals for ourselves. Yes we may want our spouse to be proud of us but success depends on our ability to be true to ourselves.

Then write out your affirmations for health and place them on cards where you will see them; maybe your frig or bathroom mirror. You can even use photos of your vision for health. This really helps! Refer to them several times a day. You may write, "I enjoy my fast walk every day."

Write down the times of day or triggers that affect you and discuss them with family members if that is appropriate. Fantasize in present tense about your healthy body, what it can do, how you look. Imagine your Mother saying, "You're loosing too much weight. Are you alright?"

Now you are ready to begin. Your mind is ready for the journey. Weight loss is the outer result of inner change. Every successful day will build greater success into every other area of your life. And as a very great and humble man said, "Every failure is an opportunity to begin again."