Supervison, Denials and Laziness

For the next several weeks I will be blogging about lessons learned from "The Biggest Loser". Anyone who has been following my blog for a while knows that I like to watch that show and see the transformations. I then started to wonder if everyone understands the lessons that can be learned from the experiences of these people. So I am going to write about it and encourage you to comment back.

The first episode of the show aired last night. There are three important things to take away from this show.

Take Away #1: They started the competition off with a challange before they even entered the ranch. All the contestants were to run 1 mile. Now, to me 1 mile is not a big deal. But to people who weigh well over 300 and 400 pounds, it is a huge deal. One woman took off faster than everyone else and had a sizeable lead in the beginning. The problem came later as she started to run out of energy. She collapsed before the finish line and had to be helped (practically carried) to the finish line. There she proceeded to pass out and was non-responsive. They had to fly her out on a stretcher in a helicopter. The point is that NO ONE should EVER try what they are doing on this show. This is an extreme weight loss program that is monitored by health and emergency professionals 24 hours a day. This is a prime example as to why.

Take Away #2: All contestants are required to list medical conditions. A doctor asked a 29 year old male how someone who is over 300 pounds and considered obese can say he has no medical conditions. The contestant stated that he doesn't have anything like Type II diabetes and the doctor interrupted him and said that he does. I hear this and read about so many very large people saying that they do not have any problems. The doctor actually stated it correctly, he is in denial. So are all these other people. If you are over weight to obese, you do have problems and you need to face that fact now. Do not lie to yourself and say you are happy with the way you are because that is also a lie. One fact I want to point out here. Look around, you will notice that there are NO obese elderly people. That is because obese people WILL die prematurely if they do not lose the weight.

Take Away #3: The reason most people will not lose the weight is because they are lazy and quitters. A bold statement I know but proven last night. A 30 year old woman who weighs 476 pounds would not climb a ladder for 20 seconds. She walked out and then came back after some thought. She had previously said she never quits anything, that she is strong, and has 476 reasons to work hard. All words. I give her credit though for coming back. She lost 17 pounds that first week. Let's see if she can stay with it.

So, stop with the excuses and deal with your denials. If you want to live a normal, longer life, than find someone who can motivate you in the right direction. Also check out my products at www.askcoachb.com. For those in the Orlando area, I will do personal sessions and will work with groups. So get some freinds and get fired up.

Make Fitness Fun!

I am currently training a 7 year old boy at the request of his parents. We all agreed on some goals but the unspoken goal was to keep him motivated to keep active.

Today was an excellent example of how to keep anyone, at any age, having fun and staying in shape. My son worked out with us today and we played a game with a deck of cards. They both loved it!

He liked some of the other exercises I have done with him so much that he is doing them on his own at home. Today I gave him a sheet that had the exercises and he wants to play it with the whole family.

What a great way for the whole family to have fun together and stay active. Now you are wondering what was it that I had them do. But I can't just give it away. Sign up for my newsletter at www.askcoachb.com while you can still get it for half the price. My charter member rate is about to expire and you don't want to miss out on all of the fun.

Time is Short

Time is a valuable asset. I have known this for years along with many of you who are reading this post. But yet we still waste it. As I get older I see how much I waste and I am not liking it. Once time has past you can not get it back.

My original profession in finance has really shown how valuable time is. It also has taught me to look for ways to better use time. That is how I have come up with my exercise programs. I use to spend 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day in the gym. Unless your profession is some sort of athlete, this is actually a huge waste of time. It is also the reason (read 'excuse' here) that many people do not exercise. Now I spend 20 to 30 minutes working out. And I am in better shape now then I was then!

Look at my programs. I promise you it won't be a waste of your time. As a matter of fact, if you email me at coachb@askcoachb.com, I will send you the 'Welcome Edition' of my newsletter to you absolutely FREE!

Try the exercises for a month. They will challenge you, and you will see a difference after that month. The recipe in there is also very good and flexible for any taste. You'll want to have more. Read my previous posts in this blog to hear about my other recipes.

This is NOT a diet. It is not a 'get fit quick' program (hint: there is no such thing). After the month is over and you see the change, go on to my web site and sign up for the monthly newsletter (www.askcoachb.com).

But you need to hurry. The Charter Subscription rate is going to end very soon. By the end of July you will have to pay twice as much if you don't act before then.

Trust me, I know the value of time and I will not waste yours. I would also like to hear what you think of my program after you try it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Memorial Day Party Without the Guilt

Our party on Sunday before Memorial Day was a huge success. We had many friends and family over to eat, play and have fun. The kids played in the pool even though it rained part of the day. They were wet anyway!

The food we had was a huge hit. Everyone raved about the burgers and the cake. The best part is that they were very healthy for you and you wouldn't even know it. Here is a picture of the cake decorated for the holiday. Using fruits as decoration not only added to the presentation, it added more nutrition.

This just goes to show you that you can eat good without sacrificing the good things in life. I refuse to and I can show you how. I do not have to work hard at staying a healthy and steady weight. After my last physical my doctor said I will live another 100 years. I aim to prove him right!

If you want to learn how to easily maintain a healthy weight and learn these great recipes I mention, then log on to my web site at www.askcoachb.com and sign up for my newsletter today. My charter member price will only be offered for a little while longer. Then you can expect to pay twice the amount. So lock in at the current low rate. You'll be glad you did.

Calling All Chocolate Cake Lovers!

Mmmmmm good!

I am not a big cake eater but this cakes is fantastic. It was moist and full of flavor. It was also very easy to make and took me no time at all.

Now you may be wondering why I am talking about chocolate cake on a health blog. It is because this cake has a fraction of the calories, fat and carbohydrates of a regular chocolate cake. And you will never know the difference.

I have given this cake to many different people for their opinion (of course not telling them it is good for you until after). Everyone loves the cake and wants to have the recipe.

You can have the recipe also. But there is a catch. You have to subscribe to my newsletter. That is it. This is only a sample of the recipes that I put in my newsletter. Plus you get nutrition tips and an exercise routine that can be done anywhere, anytime, in 10 to 20 minutes, at any fitness level. Check it out at www.askcoachb.com.

Next month in my newsletter I will have a recipe for a hamburger that is out of this world. Chocolate cake and hamburgers. What a great health routine. But hurry because the next issue will be out next month and you may not get this cake recipe.

Obesity Tax

I am sure you have been following along as our new President tries to fix our ailing economy. But have you been paying attention to what some of the States want to do?

They are hurting jst as much as everyone else. There are a lot of states, if not all, that are having to cut budgets and are coming across shortfalls. The chances are that any tax breaks we get from the federal government are going to be offset by higher taxes by the states.

The one that really caught my attention is the one they call the 'obesity tax'. It is called that because there are some states that want to tax those items that are contributing to obesity. The State of Florida is looking at taxing all non-diet soft drinks.

I don't know about you but I don't need anymore taxes, especially on food. Luckily, I don't drink soft drinks. Most people shouldn't.

My tip to you this week will not only help your waist line but also your pocket book. Drink more water. Yes. It is that simple. Our bodies were made to drink a lot of water, not all of these sugary drinks. That is especially true during the hotter months. The sugar drinks will not rehydrate your body the way it needs to be.

Definetly stay away from sports drinks. They are made for athletes or people who work out intensly for more than an hour at one time. My son and I drink it when we train for soccer but that is because we will spend from 2 to 5 hours training in 75 to 85 degree weather. It is a myth that anyone who sweats should drink it.

I have many tips you can learn throughout the year through my newsletter. I only scratch the surface in this blog. Go to www.askcoachb.com and subscribe today.

America is Getting Fatter

Congratulations America! The number of obese American adults now outnumber those who are merely overweight! 34% of Americans are obese while 32.7% are overweight. Just under 6% are morbidly obese. There are over 72 million people who are obese!

Let's compare that to previous years. There were 33% overweight which means that there are still the same number of overweight people. There were only 22.9% obese compared to 34%. That means more people went from overweight to obese. The morbidly obese was a mere 2.9% and is now a whopping 6%! That means the number of people with weight problems continues to grow.

You have heard this before and I am going to say it again. Being overweight or obese raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, arthritis and other conditions.

It is already bad enough that most Americans fit in this category, but in May, the CDC reported that 32% of US children fit the definition of being overweight, 16 percent were obese and 11% were extremely obese. I am not making these numbers up, you can check for yourself. Americans are raising FAT KIDS!!!!! STOPPPPPP!!!!!!!!

This issue gets me so mad because it can be prevented. I hear excuse after excuse as to why someone is fat (I am no longer going to be PC on this. A dog is a dog and fat is fat). I'm too busy, its too hard, its too expensive and on and on and on. Why don't people just act like adults and admit that the real reason is that they are just too LAZY! It requires a little effort.

I have a program that eliminates all of the excuses. The exercises are not too hard and can be done at your own intensity level. It is not too expensive because it requires no gym membership or expensive equipment. It requires very little time, about 10 to 20 minutes a day. You are given all the tools to create a better lifestyle. The only cost is $9.95 per month. Check out what you get at my web site at http://www.askcoachb.com/.

Just think, people maintaining a proper weight are in the minority. I feel and look good. You can too. Go to my site and sign up now. I want to help.

As an added incentive, if you leave a comment on this blog on how you are going to change your life for the better, then sign up for my newsletter, I will give you a chance to get 6 months of the newsletter cost back. After you have worked with my program and you have achieved success, write to me and tell me how your life has changed for the better. Include before and after photos. If I use you as a testimonial on my web site I will refund 6 months of the newsletter back to you. That is it. There is no limit on the number of people who I may pick. If I feel it is a really good story to share with others than I will use it.

When you sign up for my newsletter you will get an email to contact me with questions. You get a personal trainer at a fraction of the cost. go now to my site at http://www.askcoachb.com/ now.

Live Healthier Today, Guaranteed!

Well, it is finally here. My web site is up and I am now taking subscriptions to my monthly coaching newsletter. My site is www.askcoachb.com.

This newsletter will guide you through to living a healthier lifestyle. it is not another diet or exercise program. I do not believe in diets and do not train anyone to diet. I teach people how to change thier lives a little at a time so there is very little effort. It becomes second nature after awhile.

The exercises are set up to be completed in 10 to 20 minutes. Anyone can do them from the young to the old, the fit to the not-so-fit, men and women. You determine your intensity which determines your results. No equipment or gym membership is needed. You save thousands a year over traditional methods that don't work for everyone.

On top of all that, you will get two reports for free when you sign up. These reports provide you with the tools needed to start losing weight NOW! There is much more information on my site so go to www.askcoachb.com now.

For $9.95 a month you have little to lose (except for weight) and a lot to gain. You can also email me directly at coachb@askcoachb.com. What are you waiting for? It is almost the new year!

The Only One That Matters is YOU!

There are so many reasons that people go on diets or start an exercise program. They may want to look good for a vacation, family pictures, class reunion or any other event where they don't want to look "bad". Other reasons are because someone says something to them. It could be someone being mean or someone who means good. It could be a friend, a spouse or even your doctor.

Most, and I mean close to all, fail to accomplish their goal or stay at the proper weight. It is because they are not doing it for the most important reason. YOU!

You have to want to do it for yourself, not for someone else. If you want it, you can do it properly and stay with it. This is the number one reason why people who have become successful at maintaining a healthy weight stay there with little to no trouble.

A case in point is from the show "The Biggest Loser" which just ended the season a couple of days ago. A couple of weeks back, one of the trainers (Bob) was trying to explain to one of the women that she needs to want to lose the weight for herself, not just to win the game. He used the first season winner as an example. That person was so intent on 'playing the game' that when he left the show, he didn't know what to do. He gained all of the weight he had lost plus!

To add more to this point, the woman who won was not concerned with the game. Her first priority was to repair her relationship with her mother. She accomplished that and realized that as they got deeper into the season. Her second focus was on losing the weight. This became her only focus after her mother was voted off. She wanted to feel better about herself. The result was that she lost almost half her body weight. The women who was so intent on winning the game came in third.

Bottom line, look deep down inside. If you are overweight you know you have some problems. Look to find what causes you to eat poorly. Don't say that you are happy with yourself if you are overweight to obese. You are lying to yourself and anyone else you say this to. But that doesn't matter. You need to want to get healthy for yourself.

Once you have decided this, act on it. My monthly newsletter will be available next week. It will guide you to a better and happier lifestyle. It is going to be an easy transition. No diets, bland or complicated foods. No spending hours in gyms or running miles and miles. It will become second nature and you will wonder why you didn't do this before.

Stay tuned to this blog for the release of my web site.

Rising Risk for Obese Kids

Ultrasound imaging reveals accelerated evidence of heart disease in obese children. What this means is that they have middle-aged arteries! A glimpse inside the neck arteries of obese children and teens reveals cardivascular systems more like 45 year olds. This has been seen in children as young as 10 years old!

Obese children and teens, especially those with abnormal cholesterol levels, should focus on diet and exercise to prevent early aging of their arteries, new research suggests.

A study at the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine says that more than half of the 70 youngsters ages 10 to 18 enrolled in the Children’s Mercy Hospital study had a “vascular age” about 30 years older than their actual age, putting them at risk for early heart attacks, stroke — and death. That finding might also hold true for many more young people in the United States, where more than a quarter of kids ages 2 to 19 are considered obese.

Changing diet and increasing exercise can slow and perhaps stop deterioration. This new research is a reminder to take steps to prevent obesity and high cholesterol before children’s arteries grow older than their years.

This is a sad state. Parents who keep feeding their children a poor diet and not get them to exercise are only hurting them. They are actually putting them in danger of shortening their lives. But I believe the problem is with the whole family. Typically, fat parents will raise fat kids. This may be a bold statement and hard for people to hear but it holds a lot of truth. If you don't believe me, spend some time at one of the Walt Disney parks and just observe the people.

One way to reverse this is to live a healthy lifestyle as a family. Eat balanced meals and better snacks. Does that mean a child has to forgo the cake at a birthday party? No it doesn't. If you eat well all week, ONE piece of cake will not hurt. Do some physical activity as a family.

My monthly coaching newsletter is a great place to start. There are tips on how to change to a healthier lifestyle so that it becomes second nature. There are great tasting, easy to make recipes that the family can enjoy. The exercises can be done by anyone at any age and in any physical condition. Make it a family affair.

My newsletter will be out soon. Follow this blog for future news. Until then, celebrate life; be good to yourself.

20 Million Under the Age of Five are Obese

Here is some more information backing up some of my last blog entry. Another study finds that eating fast will contribute to someone becoming over-weight.

"People who eat quickly until full are three times more likely to be overweight, a problem exacerbated by the availability of fast food and the decline of orderly dining habits, Japanese researchers said on Wednesday. The findings, published in the British Medical Journal, highlight how eating styles, and not just what or how much is eaten, can contribute to an obesity epidemic fueled by the spread of Western-style affluence in many parts of the world."

Around 400 million people are obese according to the World Health Organization (WHO). What is really disturbing is that 20 million of them are under the age of five. Being obese raises the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart problems. One way adults can help children not become over-weight is to encourage them to eat slowly and provide a calm atmosphere during their meals.

The child obesity problem is a very said fact. Children should be out running around having fun. When I went to school I can only remember two kids in my class that were considered over-weight, one was probably obese. Now it is normal to have a class full of over-weight kids.

My exercise program, along with monthly coaching tips, can be imnplemented with children. None of the movements are complicated and there is no equipment needed. It combines cardio with strength training using body weight. This program is not for body builders. They need a special program. It is for everyone else who is looking to live a better, healthier life.

Stay tuned for more information on becoming part of this monthly coaching session. If you are over-weight or looking to loose a few pounds, I guarantee you will loose weight with this program. It can be a family event on a daily basis for 10 to 20 minutes. You will feel better after the first month and will want to keep going.

Exercise Can Prevent Bone Disease

Osteoporosis, or bone disease, is a condition where bones become brittle and break easily. It is most common in women but can also affect men. There is an estimated 10 million Americans that are affected by this disease. A strong family history of osteoporosis is a big risk factor.

Peak bone mass is achieved in your 20's. From childhood up to about 30 years old weight-bearing exercises such as jumping and running can help build sronger bones. After 30 you should avoid smoking and excessive drinking. You should also get good nutrition including calcium and vitamin D. Studies show that weight-bearing exercises help prevent bone loss, maintaining your current bone strength.

Exercise must be weight-bearing to stimulate the bones to become strong and dense. Perform weight-bearing aerobic activities like running, jumping, racquet sports, dancing, basketball, hiking and high-impact fitness classes. My "Journey to 300" routines utilize body weight or dumbbells along with aerobic activity that lasts between 10 to 20 minutes per session. Low or no-impact activities such as cycling and swimming are good for overall fitness but don't help bone mass.

Older people should also perform flexibility and balance routines to avoid bone-breaking falls. Statistics show that one in two women over 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture, most commonly of the hip, spine or wrist.

Unfortunately there are no guarantees that this will prevent osteoporosis. It can help it from getting worse so don't delay another day. Start exercising and you will have a long and productive life.

Keep an eye out for my monthly newsletter coming soon. It will have nutrition information, great tasting receipes, my "Journey to 300" exercise routine (a new routine every month), sport specific exercises and much more. I guarantee you will lose body fat and start to feel better within the first month. I am going to launch it with a special offer of $9.95 per month. You would be locked into this rate for as long as you continually subscribe. The price will go up for new subscribers after the initial offer but you will receive even more information for the same low price of $9.95. I will also be throwing in a special report for free. Details to come soon.

What Exercise and Drug Abuse Have in Common

There is a study that found that youngsters and teens who reported exercising daily were half as likely to smoke as thier sedentary counterparts, and 40% less likely to experiment with marijuana.

Now if that isn't motivation to get your children away from the TV and outside getting some good ol' fashion exercise, than I don't know what will. That is definetly a big relief for me because my son is very active playing sports. He still loves his video games but we monitor the amount he plays and so far so good. I know this doesn't get me off the hook as far as drugs are concerned but it should keep the odds in our favor that he will never touch them.

But it is not just children this applies to. As you have heard from me and probably countless others, exercise is good for your weight, your heart, your bones and many other things. But now there is some evidence that it could also help to prevent addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Exercise is already being used in drug treatment clinics as a distraction to the cravings. To this point there has been little formal research on the effects. Research is now starting to determine the effects on preventing addictions.

Brown University has done some research where they took smokers to the gym three times a week as part of a smoking-cessation program. What they found was that this doubled women's chances of successfully kicking the habit.. They also gained half as much weight as women who managed to quit smoking without exercise.

Here are some other benefits from exercise performed with lab animals and people:

• Rats were less likely to ingest amphetimines if their cages had running wheels.
• In people, exercise acts as a mild antidepressant and relieves stress.
• Baby monkeys who do not play enough in childhood have problems controlling aggression when older. They also tend to bunge-drink when offered alcohol.
• In rats, physical activity increases production of growth factors and stem cells in key brain regions important for learning and mood; increases formation of blood vessels; and strengthens communication networks between brain cells.

With all of these benefits and so many more, why isn't everyone exercising? There are lots of excuses but they can all be overcome. I am creating a monthly coaching newsletter that will give instructions on what you should accomplish during the month. There will be work out routines that require no equipment and little space. The routines will take between 10 to 20 minutes to complete. Anyone can do this in the morning 3 to 5 times a week. You WILL lose weight and feel better. Your children will even be able to perform these routines with you. Stay tuned for more information on how you can be a part of this.

Miracle Weight Loss? NOT!

I have heard a lot about gastric-bypass surgery and have even attended training seminars on how to train people who have undergone this process. There is a "menu" of bariatric operations to chose from. But this is not the miracle weight loss solution that everyone should be looking at. In fact, 4 in 10 patients develop complications within the first six months! I was hesitant to undergo shoulder surgery to repair major damage so there is no way I would consider someone cutting me open and messing with my intestines and stomache.

One procedure actually sections off part of the stomache to limit food consumption and then shortens the intestine so that less is absorbed through your system. Guess what? This means you have to learn how to eat differently. So what is the difference between having an invasive procedure to just eating better on your own? Both are creating new habits but the surgery is adding risk, not to mention the cost of the surgery and post-operative care.

After the suregery, they teach you how to eat tiny, frequent meals. A good trainer or nutritionist can do that without lifting a knife. You also have to take supplements to get the vitamins you are not receiving because of the quick passing through you intestine. You can take supplements without surgery ( I recommend a good multivitamin at a minimum, even if you are eating properly).

One woman profiled had lost 160 pounds after 15 months. That is 2 to 2 1/2 pounds per week. You can do that with a proper diet and exercise too. This same woman also said that after 7 months from the surgery, she had developed an agonizing ulcer on the new inner seam bewteen her stomache and intestine that required another operation. You wouldn't get that with a proper diet and exercise.

She was also rushed into emergency surgery one day when she doubled over in pain. She had an intestinal hernia. Her bowel had snagged on a slit in her abdominal wall. That wouldn't have happened with a proper diet and exercise.

She had to have a fourth procedure to ease the pain of the abdominal scarring. The gastrointestinal pain had become so severe she could barely eat. One day she couldn't flex her right foot then within weeks her limbs began to tingle, her energy evaporated and her weight plummeted. She stopped menstruating and she felt like dying. She had a disorder called bariatric beriberi. A new term based on extreme thiamine deficiency caused by the surgery. That wouldn't happen with a proper diet and exercise.

There is a general perception that this is a shortcut to being thin. It is not. It takes just as long as if you had a proper diet and regular exercise, yet all of the risks are eliminated. The media hypes this surgery and it is deceiving. They even go as far as to say that this surgery can help type 2 diabetes. Well dah...! If you loss weight you reduce the risk and can even reverse it in some cases. Why are they associating this with the surgery when it is the weight loss? They also say in one study that obese people who have the surgery extend their lives up to 7 years over those that don't. Again...dah...! Weight loss does that too. it is a sales pitch and a very dnagerous one at that.

Here are some more sombering statistics. The death rate for gastric bypass surgery is between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 200. Other problems patients have had after surgery include vomiting, diarrhea, infections, hernias and respiratory failure. Up to 40% can suffer nutritional deficiency, potentially resulting in anemia and osteoporosis; siezures and paralysis have been reported in extreme cases. Some have even had bizarre neurological problems.

Here is the summary on gastric-bypass surgery. You can shed up to 70% of excess weight within 18 months but will gradually regain 20 to 25% of what was lost (because you haven't learned to exercise). If you are extremely obese (BMI > 40) you merely shift to obese. Obese can drop to overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9). Only 10% ever drop to a normal BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. You risk all of the probelms listed above. You have to relearn how to eat properly as a lifetime commitment.

Here is exercising and proper diet. You can shed ALL of your excess weight within 18 to 24 months (depends on how much you need to lose). You relearn how to eat properly without starving yourself. You get more energy. You feel good. It is a lifestyle change that is easier and pain free if done correctly with a good trainer.

Final word here is to stop looking for the easy way because there is none. Human beings are meant to exercise and eat balanced, natural foods. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Cut out sugars and processed food. Trust me. You will be better off and will live a longer, healthier and more productive life.

Aging Baby Boomers

Baby boomers is the largest generation in the history of the US. These are people born between 1945 and 1964 and account for 76 million people. I am at the tail end of this and have had to deal with plenty of issues because of it. That would be a whole different type of blog.

What I want to address is the health of these and the many Americans that are older. Do you realize that there are 41 countries with longer life expectancies than the US? The life expectancy in the US ranges between 69 and 80 with an average of 77.6 years. There are three main reasons for this: poor insurance coverage, large immigrant population and the obesity epidemic.

Face it, Americans live in excess. Have you seen how many all-you-can-eat buffets there are? I live in the largest tourist destination in the world and we have a bunch of those. I was at a fitness seminar this weekend in the heart of the tourist area and I ate at one of those restaurants. There was very little that was healthy for you and people piled up their plate, several times, and ate everything!

I digress. Approximately 85% of all baby boomers will have the following chronic diseases by the age of 65: hypertension, coronary artery disease and diabetes. That is over 64 million people! And to top it all off, 75% of all American deaths are due to stroke, coronary artery disease and cancer. These can be prevented.

Of the three reasons for the US life expectancy being shorter than other countries I am going to address one of them here. It is the poor health insurance issue. Most of the countries that have longer life expectancies have health plans that are monitored or controlled by the government. The people pay higher taxes so everyone is covered. I am not advocating this only pointing out a fact. So the first issue is that everyone is covered, not just the people who can afford it.

The second, and I think most important, is that our health care system treats diseases, not prevent it. There needs to be prevention so the health care system can be used more effectively to take care of the real issues caused by accidents, genetics and natural causes.

This is where exercise comes in to play. Contrary to what some people may believe, exercise can not cure any disease. Exercise prevents deconditioning which preserves function and independence. It will also improve the quality of life.

It is never too late to start. Programs can be started at any age with any conditions. A good personal trainer will be able to work with you and any issues you may have. If you are diabetic, you can still work out. You just need to take a few precautions that others may not have to take.

My recommendation is that if you are not exercising and eating properly than you need to start now. Seek advice from knowledgable professionals. Once you start to feel better you will not want to stop.

Calories in Water?

Since when does water have calories? I have been seeing all of these commercials on water that has less calories than another water. Why? Because every business is looking for an edge. Beverage companies are now adding flavors, vitamins, minerals and other things in water in order to increase their market share.

Water should have zero calories, zero fat, zero protien, zero carbohydrates, zero everything! Just plain old water is what your body needs. There are some waters that have flavorings. As long as they have zeroes on the nutrition label you are fine.

Now I am going to take this a little further. Sports drinks. The adds say "if you sweat you lose electrolites and they need to be replaced". That is not entirely accurate. If you work out for 20 to 30 minutes you should be sweating. but you do not sweat enough that you need to drink a sugary sports drink. Sports drinks are good if you work out for more than an hour. Even then I would recommend you drink the less sugary stuff like Gatorade's G2. The regular sports drinks are really made for athletes that work long and hard almost every day. Water is plenty good for the rest of us.

My recommendation for anyone trying to lose weight is to look at what you are drinking every day. Even drinking diet colas should be replaced with water. I like to use the guideline of one ounce of water for every pound of weight. For instance, if you weigh 180 pounds then you should drink 180 ounces of water every day. that equates to 11.25 16 ounce bottles of water. That is a lot of water but it is effective in keeping you hydrated when working out and will aid in losing weight. You could also be more conservative and figure out how many cans of soda you drink in a day and aim to drink that much in water instead.

The bottom line is plain water is the best thing for you. Never mind the hype.