Exercise – Page 96 – Irene Pastore Fitness.com

Weight Loss Motivation

April 7, 2013

Americans Are Over Fed

If you’re a typical American, you don’t have a problem with starvation. You have problem with eating too much, and overdosing on calories.

Before you know it, you don’t want to look in the mirror. Just buy another XXL tee shirt and baggy pants, to cover up the excess fat.

Excess Fat Is A Walking Time Bomb

You know that the excess fat is making you into a walking time bomb for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, low backache, hip, knee and lumbar dysfunction.

There are hundreds of people like you who don’t want to carry around excess fat, but don’t know how to start losing unwanted pounds, or just can’t find the motivation to get started.

Hundreds Of People Have Lost Weight

When you click on this link, it will take you to a website where you can read hundreds of weight loss success stories from real people, like yourself. All the stories are different.

Breaking Points

On this list are typical reasons people begin a weight loss program in earnest. Read through the breaking points, to help yourself find the motivation to drop excess fat.

Tired all the time. No energy to care for children.
At 24, my doctor told me I had liver disease, and that I’d need a liver transplant.
At 30 I was taking blood pressure medication, and dealing with alot of anxiety and stress. I wanted to feel better, and was terrified of developing heart disease and diabetes.
At 54, I weighed 315 pounds, and sleeping 18 hours a day.
My business failed because of the way I looked.
I knew I was a high risk for diabetes. I didn’t want it to happen to me.
I took full responsibility for weighing 500 pounds, and decided it was time to take it off.
After looking at photographs of myself, I decided to make changes in my weight.
I suffered from backaches, had problems walking up stairs, and reaching down to tie my shoe laces.
I got out-of-breath trying to reach down to put on my socks. It was time for a change.
I weighed more than 475 pounds from compulsive eating at all-you-can-eat fast food restaurants, and no exercise. I wanted to live to see my grandson grow up.
At 34 I weighed 433 pounds. I took a pool exercise class with 60 year-old women, and couldn’t keep up. I could barely move. I was considering using a mobility chair.
I was obese when I got married, and was embarrassed by the photographs.
I was inspired by co-workers who lost weight.
Photographs of myself made me cringe.
In the Christmas party photos, I looked like I had 15 chins.
I was made fun of in high school because of my obesity.

Get Motivated

Read about 382 Weight Loss Stories, and get inspired.

Stuffing Your Feet Into Sky High Shoes

April 6, 2013

My grandma’s sister was a fashion maven, who admitted that she disfigured her feet by wearing high heels. When I was old enough to notice, I asked her why her feet came to a point, her big toe lay on top of her second toe, and why she walked funny. She said her feet were messed up and ugly, from squeezing them into tight fitting high heels.

high-heel-sandals2 — BUNIONS IN PROGRESS

She made me promise I wouldn’t wear bad shoes, unless I wanted my feet to look just like hers.

The Cruel Shoes

Fashion heels don’t have much to do with common sense. Steve Martin’s, “The Cruel Shoes,” is the story of Anna, who visits a shoe store, and gladly buys a pair of foot nightmares, that make her feet bleed. The premise isn’t really exaggerated. Most women buy heels based on emotional appeal, rather than foot health.

The Worst Shoes For Your Feet

While it may not overcome the powerful effects of advertising, WebMD, has a slide show to educate women. It’s called, “The Worst Shoes For Your Feet.” Incase you’re considering reconstructing your shoe wardrobe, here’s some inspiration to help you downsize the height of your heels.

High Heel Health Conditions & Injuries

Hammer toes
Corns
Ingrown toenails
Driving accidents
Calluses
Low back pain
Numbness
Achilles tendon damage (Morton’s Neuroma)
Bunions
Pump Bump (enlargement of the heel bone)
Sciatica
Blisters
Ankle injury
Leg pain
Osteoarthritis of the knee
Trip and fall accidents

The Armadillo Shoe

While I’m at it, I may as well comment on the Armadillo Shoe, because things like this have a way of influencing street wear. The late fashion designer, Alexander McQueen, came up with a risky 10 inch runway shoe, called the Armadillo. Some models refused to wear them.

The phrase, “to die for”, would be apt, when wearing shoes like this, or a facsimile. Toppling over, and hitting your head isn’t too far fetched. Fanciful shoes are the realm of art, rather than practical footwear.

Be kind to your feet. They affect the way you walk, and feel. Fashion shoes are beautiful in the box, but aren’t doing your two feet any favors. Corns, bunions, hammertoes, and ingrown toe nails aren’t lovely to look at. Healthy feet won’t embarrass you, when removing your shoes. You’ll never have to apologize for your corns.

Exercise of the Month: April 2013

April 3, 2013

ABS ON THE BALL

Level: Advanced

Style: Core Stabilization

Equipment: Exercise Ball, Exercise Mat, Athletic Shoes (optional).

Muscles Worked: Abs

How To Perform Abs On The Ball

Get onto all fours with wrists under shoulders, and knees under hips. Slide the ball under your abdomen.
Slowly move into a downward plank position and roll the ball under your legs, as shown in Starting Position.
Slowly pull your tailbone upward toward the ceiling, until your body forms a V, as shown in Finish Position.
Return to Start Position and repeat for 10-12 repetitions, or fewer depending on tolerance.

Modifications

Place the ball under your thighs, instead of your legs. Placing the ball closer to your feet, makes the exercise more difficult.

Correct Technique

Move slowly throughout.
Avoid shaking.
If you experience discomfort, or pains in your wrists, stop the exercise.
The exercise can be performed with, or without wearing athletic shoes.

Cautions

Do not perform this exercise if you lack shoulder, abdominal, or forearm strength.
Do not perform this exercise if you are a beginner, if you’re in a hurry, or showing off in front of friends. Injuries aren’t worth it.
Use the correct size exercise ball.

Soda Wars

March 20, 2013

Soda Wars: New York Vs. Mississippi

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s controversial ban on large soda was overturned on March 11, by Justice Milton Tingling of State Supreme Court in Manhattan.

The judge said the ban was arbitrary and capricious, with too many loopholes and exemptions, because it applied to some but not all food establishments, and to some sweetened drinks, but not others. Read more in the March 13, 2013 issue of the New York Daily News. Continue reading “Soda Wars”

Pizza: When Your’re Hungry, Broke or In A Hurry

March 8, 2013

Pizza isn’t bad. It’s good. It’s just bad when you make a habit of eating it as a substitute for fiber-rich food such as veggies, and fruit. For anyone with gluten

sensitivity, wheat crust invites problems. Salt, sugar watchers, and calorie counters, need to use caution. Added toppings increase calories, and so do beverages.

Reasons People Eat Pizza

When they’re on the run.
Pizza parlors are prevalent.
It’s fast.
It’s cheap.
It’s filling and delicious.
Contains protein, carbs, and veggies.
Easy to order from home, take out, or eat in.
Fun to eat, and great for parties.
Seems to go well with soda pop.

Pizza The Good

Contains nutrition.
RECTANGULAR VEGGIE PIZZA
It’s filling.
Good source of protein.
Many varieties for all taste buds.
Good way to get kids to eat their veggies.
Time-saver.

Pizza The Bad

The crust and sauce contain white sugar.
Made from refined white flour.
The wheat crust contains gluten.
Low in fiber.
Habit forming.
Veggies are overcooked.
Meat contains hormones, and preservatives.
High in sodium.
Cheese pizza is high in saturated fat.
High in calories. One slice of cheese pizza contains between 240 to 360 calories.

Pizza Healthy Alternatives

Gluten-free pizza, and also here, and here.
Don Antonio’s in NYC serves gluten-free pizza.
Keste Pasta & Vino in NYC serves gluten-free pizza.
Trader Joe’s gluten-free frozen pizza.
Garbanzo bean crust pizza recipe.
Cauliflower pizza crust recipe.
Portion control Vegan Mini Pizza recipe. Toaster oven do it-yourself.

Exercise of the Month: March 2013

March 3, 2013

SCISSORS ON THE BALL

Exercise Type: Core Stabilization

Level: Advanced

Equipment: Exercise Ball, Sticky Mat, Athletic Shoes optional.

Muscles Worked: Gluteals, Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Hip Flexors, Abdominals

How To Perform Scissors On The Ball

Place a sticky mat on the floor. Place the exercise in front of your mat.
Remove your shoes. Lie on your back on the sticky mat, with arms at your sides, palms down.
Place both legs on the ball.
Take one deep breath. Exhale fully as you lift up off the mat, balancing on the ball, as shown in Position One.
Scissors On The Ball
Position Two
Take another deep breath. Exhale fully as you lift your right leg off the ball as shown in Position Two. Slowly bring your leg down onto the ball, and change sides.
Do 5 to 8 repetitions.