Not By Diet Alone....

In yesterday's article, Will a Good Diet Alone Make You Healthy? we concluded that the answer was "No".

The individual components of Exercise, Diet, Sunshine, Fresh Air, Rest/Sleep, a good Attitude - are all necessary to achieve true Health.

We like to work on the parts we are strong in, where we are comfortable, rather than the part that needs strengthening. Sort of like with a piece of music - it's much more fun to play the parts we know, than to go back and break apart the difficult passages to get them up to speed.

It takes work, but the results and the satisfaction that comes with it always make it worthwhile.

Rev. George A. Malkmus, founder of Hallelujah Acres, teaches a "Get Healthy, Stay Balanced" program, where "balanced" means that all these components are necessary.

Dr. Douglas Graham, author of the 80/10/10 Diet and a 30 year living example and teacher of the raw food diet and lifestyle, says we are only as strong as our weakest link. How true that is!

He also says that if we have one spoke in the wheel that is either too short or too long, the ride will be very bumpy. I like that analogy because it is an accurate description of what happens when we either ignore one facet, or over-emphasize another.

A lot of people in the raw food movement have found such wonderful results from radically changing their diets from the SAD (Standard American Diet) to a raw or mostly raw fruits and vegetable diet, that they tend to stay there for a really long time.

I did, too, for a few years. Then I started adding in exercise, which wasn't hard for me because I have always loved being physically active, and since my health improved so dramatically with the diet change it was even easier.

After a few more years, when my diet wasn't something I had to work so hard at anymore, I started to take seriously the importance of getting enough fresh air and sunshine. Lately I've really been paying attention to my attitude, rest and sleep.

It's an exciting journey!

We are not fragmented creatures. God created each of us with a physical body, a spirit, and emotions that encompass one very unique and special person, of infinite value.

We should treat ourselves as such.

Phyllis Towse

What Qualifies as Exercise? Part 2

Last time we talked about a few ideas for getting exercise in less formal settings that are easier on the pocketbook but just as effective, and if they are done outdoors, there is the added benefit of getting necessary fresh air.

Here are some more:

Get out your old bike that’s been collecting dust in the garage, or get a new one (or used) and go for a scenic ride around your neighborhood or local bike trail. This is great fun, especially if you do it with a friend or your spouse. You will find yourself getting to know your neighborhood better, and making new friends.

If you’re a mom with young children, trust me, you are already doing exercise daily! But if you want more, set aside a little time during your day or evening for a special time of working out.

It can become a fun time, a great way to release stress, and then there are those great endorphins that kick in for that wonderfully relaxed feeling after you are all done. It can help you sleep much better, too.

We tend to think that doing exercise gives us more energy, but strictly speaking that is not true. Exercise takes energy - that’s a fact.

What does happen is that we gain strength and endurance, so that our activities take less energy than before, and so it feels like we have more energy. We still have the same amount as before, but we have more available, or left over.

Swimming in a pool (hopefully one with very little or no chlorine in it) is great, and so much better on your joint than running orjogging.

If your knees are in good shape, you can make a routine of running up and down the stairs either in your office building at lunchtime or in your home – that’s a tough one but it’s great for those legs!

Lots of people start out intending to exercise faithfully, but don’t keep it up, whether through lack of real commitment or from a change in circumstances, whatever.

Don’t be too hard on yourself, but do keep trying! Always keep in mind the reason you are doing it – to be healthy, and to feel and look great.

Keep at it and reap the benefits for years to come, both for you and your loved ones.

Exercise - It Does a Body Good! Part 2

Last time we talked about the three main types of exercise:

. Aerobic
. Flexibility
. Anaerobic

Now we'll go into each a little more fully.

Aerobic or Cardiovascular

Aerobic means “with oxygen”, and Cardiovascular means “involving or relating to the human heart and blood vessels”.

The cardiovascular system is composed of the heart and blood vessels, and is responsible for circulating oxygen-rich blood throughout the body and removing waste products.

Examples of this type of exercise include walking, jogging, swimming, bicycling, rebounding, snow shoveling, any sustained activity that gets your heart rate up and keeps it up for a minimum of 20-30 minutes.

Flexibility. Daily stretching lengthens muscles, increases range of motion and mobility, and can relax you. Remember to breathe deeply!

This can be part of your cool-down after your aerobic exercise. For years we were told to do our stretching prior to a workout, but now we know that the muscles first have to be warmed up in order to prevent injury.

Anaerobic exercise refers to strength or weight training. You can use the obvious tools such as dumbells, or you can use your own body weight and do push-up or sit-ups, etc.

This type of exercise will strengthen muscles and bones, increase bone density, normalize hormonal levels, and reduce your biological age. If you want to prevent weakening of your bones as you age, this is a far more effective way than taking calcium supplements or drinking milk of any type.

A word of caution: Remember to not overdo at first. Just start from wherever you are and increase gradually from there.

Do not get discouraged, but keep at it, and you WILL see improvement! Your body will thank you for it.

Now go and have a great workout! :-)

Exercise - It Does a Body Good! Part 1

Exercise - It Does a Body Good! Part 1

Exercise.

When you hear that word, do you cringe? It is either something you love or you hate.

Some of us will go to practically any length to avoid it, and some of us (including this author!) actually look forward to their workouts.

Regardless of where we stand on the subject, it is a fact of life that our bodies were made to exercise, and if we do not, we suffer the consequences in the form of premature aging, aches and pains, and actual disease.

Let’s talk about some of the benefits of exercise.

When we exercise, impurities leave our bodies through our skin. It is one of the body’s methods of detoxifying, a term you hear quite often these days.

We look and feel younger (and who doesn’t want that?), our skin is healthier, it becomes easier to do physical tasks, our heart and lungs are strengthened, we get improved circulation, improved quality of sleep, weight loss (along with diet) - we are healthier in every way!

There are three main categories or types of exercise.

. Aerobic or Cardiovascular

. Flexibility

. Anaerobic

All three are absolutely necessary to our health. Next time we'll look at each one a little more closely.