Month: June 2013

Obesity Up In Cats, Dogs and Horses

June 12, 2013

ANIMAL OBESITY IS ON THE RISE

Obesity due to overfeeding is becoming a health problem among domestic animals. Some cases are so severe that the animal has difficulty walking, as in the case of Obie, the 77 pound dachshund.  According to CBS News in Los Angeles, animal obesity is an epidemic across the country, with over half being overweight.

Read about Obie, the world’s fattest, overfed dachshund in The Sun July 2012 – Dog Almost Fed To Death By Owners.  An up-to-date report on Obie’s progress is in the May 2013 issue of the Daily Mail, Obie The Formerly Obese Dachshund.  The dog has lost 40 pounds.

Weight loss prescription is the same for animals as humans, cut back on calories, and increase exercise.  Overfeeding your furry friend isn’t a sign of love.  An overweight animal, isn’t a happy one.  A cat that can’t stand up or walk, isn’t funny.

If you really love your furry friends, stop overfeeding them.  The articles in the following section are a good start to help you understand how to help your overweight cat, dog or horse lose weight.

NEWS AND WEBSITES ABOUT ANIMAL OBESITY

For further information about prevention visit The Association Of Pet Obesity Prevention.

Tips on buying dog and cat food, Are You Overfeeding Your Pet?, and High Fat Dog Foods.

Mistakes People Make Feeding Cats at WebMD, and Help For Overweight Dogs.

Advice on feeding fewer calories, and giving more exercise from the Horse Channel:  Help For An Overweight Horse.

The April 2012 issue of Veterinary News reports on, Overweight Horses: An Increasing Problem.

Learn how to care for an overweight horse from The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP): The Overweight Horse Special Care and Nutrition, July 2005.

A fat horse is not a happy horse, from May 2004 DVM News, Equine Obesity.

PawNation, How To Avoid Overfeeding Your Horse.

Copyright 2013 Irene Pastore and Blue Moon Personal Training

Mozzarella On-The-Go

June 8, 2013

Planning a hiking or biking trip?  Pack an easy lunch with mozzarella cheese, fresh fruit, and whole grain crackers, or pretzels.

Mozzarella is an, easy-to-slice Italian curd cheese made from cow’s milk.  If you’re concerned about fat, mozzarella is sold in low-fat and skim.

The soft, bland and milky tasting cheese is complimented by apples, pears, grapes, peaches, nectarines, plums, and tangerines. 

To compliment mozzarella cheese, a quick bite to eat should include crisp breads such as whole grain crackers, or pretzels.  Here are a few suggestions: WASA Sourdough, or Multigrain Crackers, Ritz Whole Wheat Crackers, Carr’s Rosemary Crackers, Saltine Crackers.

Whole grain spelt, or whole wheat pretzels would serve as an alternative to crackers,  and are very easy to pack.  Newman’s Own, and Vita Spelt both manufacture organic spelt pretzels.  Synder’s of Hanover sells Organic Honey Wheat Pretzel Sticks.

Buon Appetito!

Copyright 2013 Irene Pastore and Blue Moon Personal Training

Giving up on Pilates

June 6, 2013

Why People Quit Pilates

The Pilates Hundred exercise might be too difficult for beginners.

You’ve tried a group class, and couldn’t do the exercises.  Your neck hurt, and you couldn’t keep your head off the mat.  Your hamstrings are so tight that you couldn’t straighten your legs.  You were out of breath. Everything hurt.  You couldn’t wait for the class to end.

If you had an experience like this, the class you took was much too difficult.  Maybe it was the only one offered at your gym, and you decided to try it.  But now, your never going back.  No wonder you quit.

How To Enjoy Learning Pilates

There’s a better way to begin Pilates.  Here are a few suggestions.

  • Find a Pilates studio, or gym that offers basic classes.  Call the studio, describe your needs.  Find  out whether they teach your fitness level.  
  • Find a Pilates trainer who has a studio, or will visit your home for private instruction.
  • Purchase a beginner level DVD.  Amazon.com is a good place to start because of their large inventory.
  • Purchase a Pilates book that illustrates exercise modifications.
  • Find on online membership-based Pilates studio that offers basic classes.
  • When you take classes, be sure to listen carefully to instructions.
  • Don’t overdo it.

When To Hire A Pilates Trainer

Group exercise isn’t for everyone, especially if you’ve been injured, have special needs, or you’ve been sedentary.

Pilates Spine Supporter
The Pilates Spine Supporter is used to modify The Hundred exercise.

A qualified trainer will save you time and money by teaching you correct alignment, and how to modify exercises that are too difficult.  They will take you step-by-step through each exercise according to your ability, and help you avoid injury.

A trainer will demonstrate the use of specialized Pilates equipment, such as the Spine Supporter, and the Pilates band.

The band helps you develop stronger abdominals and neck muscles during the supine Roll-Up, without straining yourself.

The Spine Supporter develops abdominal strength, and reduces tension in your neck during the Double Leg Stretch exercise.

At some point, you might be ready to join a group class.  So, don’t give up.  If you stay with it, you’ll succeed.

 Copyright 2013 Irene Pastore and Blue Moon Personal Training

The Onion: World Class Superfood

June 5, 2013

Onion Power

The only vegetable that makes you cry, happens to be an important source of quercetin, an antioxidant, that boosts the immune system.

Antioxidants scavage unhealthy particles in the blood stream, known as free radicals that damage cells membranes, and tamper with DNA.

Consuming onions on a regular basis has beneficial effects against adverse health conditions, such as cancer, asthma, allergies, heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Onions are high in vitamin C, provide a good source of dietary fiber, and folic acid.  They contain calcium and iron, are low in sodium, and have no fat.

Cancer Prevention

  • The quercetin and phytochemicals in onions inhibit the growth of breast, ovarian, bladder, colon, gastric, and lung cancer.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Relief

  • Quercetin is a potent anti-inflammatory helpful for managing rheumatoid arthritis.

Detoxification

  • Onions have antiviral and antibiotic properties.

Heart health

  • The quercetin found in onions raises good  cholesterol (HDL).

 

TYPES OF ONIONS

Yellow Onions

  • Yellow onions are white on the inside, and have a strong, pungent flavor.  The have a brown papery outer skin.

Red Onions

  • Red onions are white on the inside., and have a mild to sweet flavor.  They have a dark red papery outer skin.

White Onions

  • White onions are white on the inside, and have a milk flavor. They have a white papery skin.  Examples of white onions are Walla Walla, and Vidalia.

Copyright  2013 Irene Pastore and Blue Moon Personal Training

Exercise of the Month: June 2013

June 1, 2013

WARRIOR TWO YOGA POSE 

Start Position
Warrior II

Sanskrit Name: Virabhadrasana

Level: Warrior II is a basic standing Yoga pose.  

Reverse Warrior is an intermediate level, standing Yoga pose.

Equipment: Yoga sticky mat.

Muscles Worked Warrior II: Strengthens shoulders, hamstrings, hip abductors, and external rotators.  Stretches quadriceps, hips (iliopsoas, and adductors).

Reverse Warrior stretches the oblique abdominals, while strengthening the legs, and opening the hips.

How to Perform the Warrior Two Yoga Pose

Turn your right foot to the right, and step your feet wide apart, as shown in the photograph of Warrior II Pose.  Your hips and shoulders form a rectangle.

Raise both arms to shoulder height keeping wrists straight. Turn your head to the right, gazing at your fingertips.

Distribute your weight evenly over both legs.  Hold 20 to 30 seconds.

Reverse Warrior Pose
Reverse Warrior Pose

Variation: Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana).  This is a more challenging variation of the Warrior II Pose.  

Set up is the same as Warrior II.  The difference is adding a side bend while raising the arm.  

Distribute your weight evenly over both legs. Your hand should rest gently on your leg.  

Gaze upward at your open palm.

Caution: To prevent slipping, remain centered on your mat. Avoid poses that are uncomfortable for your body.  You should be able to breath deeply without forcing the flow of your breath.

Copyright 2013 Irene Pastore and Blue Moon Personal Training