In the midst of winter season that is cold one day and warm the next, staying healthy becomes a difficult challenge.  Not to mention the craziness over H1N1 swine flu virus that has/had the nation in a frenzy over whether or not you would actually live through this “pandemic.”

I’ve read or heard about more people being seriously injured after getting the vaccine then I did about deaths.  In fact the CDC just released this bit of information recently, “The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report decreased over the previous week and remains below what is expected for this time of year.”  But this post isn’t about my views on swine flu and vaccinations.

H1N1 Funny

When we get sick we instantly think of taking massive doses of vitamin C to get well again.  While vitamin C alone won’t prevent you from getting sick, it does do the following:

Much like the immune system itself, which operates at a cellular level, the hardworking vitamin C reaches every cell of the body. The concentration of vitamin C in both blood serum and tissues is quite high.1 In fact, this nutrient plays a major role in the manufacture and defense of our connective tissue, the elaborate matrix that holds the body together. It serves as a primary ingredient of collagen, a glue-like substance that binds cells together to form tissues.

Vitamin C helps some of our most important body systems. First and foremost, it helps the immune system to fight off foreign invaders and tumor cells. Vitamin C also supports the cardiovascular system by facilitating fat metabolism and protecting tissues from free radical damage, and it assists the nervous system by converting certain amino acids into neurotransmitters.

The skin, teeth and bones also benefit from vitamin C’s collagen-forming and invader-resisting properties; this vitamin contributes to the maintenance of healthy bones, the prevention of periodontal disease and the healing of wounds. It even serves as a natural aspirin, of sorts, by combating inflammation and pain, according to Formula For Life. It accomplishes this task by inhibiting the secretion of the prostaglandins that contribute to such symptoms. from Gary Null

Vitamin C Pills

Whether or not the vitamin has a direct effect on disease seems to still be in question (along with some recent studies about Vitamin D being a more effective disease fighter).  As you’re browsing through Shoprite or Pathmark in Ramsey you might wander into the vitamin aisle and notice the assortment of C pills.  In my cabinet right now we have 1,000 mg tablets which Dasha starts forcing down our throats if anyone even sneezes.

[click to continue…]

Sharing Helps and Makes Me Happy :)
  • Print
  • Add to favorites
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Ping.fm
  • RSS
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz

{ 0 comments }

Dear Ramsey residents,

Did you know that 33% of Americans are obese or overweight? That means 1 in every 3 people. In a town of around 14,000 people that means that 4,667 are in that category. Of course that total number doesn’t differentiate adults from children, but the percentage doesn’t change.

Did you know that more and more kids are overweight these days?  Why is that? Video games? Computers? Television?  It is easy to pass blame and kids today are a bit different, but not that much.

I can remember as a kid I played basketball everyday for most of my teenage life.  Thats just what we did.  I didn’t have a computer, laptop, or even a gaming system.  At that time I didn’t want a Playstation (yes that was what was out) because I was never home to use it.

I rode my bike a lot, because my mother worked and my parents were separated.  I also lived about a 25 minute bike ride to my friends.  When I got there, we rode down the street and played basketball.  The only thing that changed when I got my license was that I didn’t have to ride a bike.

But you see, basketball was a huge part of Indiana.  Similar to soccer here I would suspect.  Basketball isn’t really popular, because I’ve found that the courts at Finch Park are always empty.  Disappointing.

Of course basketball isn’t the cure to childrens’ weight gain.  But what is?  As parents, do we expect our kids to be super active if  we aren’t?  How many parents work all day and then come home and just want to relax?  We have to lead by example.  Regular exercise doesn’t make you tired, it actually cranks up your energy level.

People who come to my bootcamp enter tired perhaps, but by the end they are bouncing off the walls with energy.  But this post isn’t about my boot camps (though they are awesome).  Rather its about setting examples for our children.

Kids aren’t going to eat vegetables if mom or dad doesn’t.  And kids will eat them if you want them to.  Don’t forget, we all remember what school was like with teasing and bullying.  Overweight kids are the end of that torment alot more than skinny ones unfortunately.

Check out this video from CBS News and pay attention to the part with the younger children.

[click to continue…]

Sharing Helps and Makes Me Happy :)
  • Print
  • Add to favorites
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Ping.fm
  • RSS
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz

{ 1 comment }

Are you looking for a nice hot soup recipe to brave the chilly winter air?  Perhaps you’ve been searching for a nice hot cocoa recipe that can warm your body when the temperature gets you down.  Either way, you probably love to eat warm foods during the long winter hibernation.

Every winter I decide to make a delicious meal containing tons of vegetables and protein.  It takes some time to prepare (but Ill show you some short cuts) but it is a great winter meal, one which can produce a few days of left overs as well.  Chili is thy name, and we are gonna get into how to turn this cheap meal into a healthful masterpiece fit for anyone concerned about their weight or nutrition.

What is chili? According to Socastee Online “Chili is a stew-like soup made entirely with meat, chilies, or chili powder (or both) and according to what region of the United States that you live in, it can also include beans. “Con carne” means “with meat.” However, this not the Atkins diet where you eat tons of meat and cheese and leave out everything else.  We are gonna load this thing down with vegetables.  Lets get started.

[click to continue…]

Sharing Helps and Makes Me Happy :)
  • Print
  • Add to favorites
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Ping.fm
  • RSS
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz

{ 2 comments }

Today I’ve got a quick way for you to save over 360 calories in one of your favorite meals.  Are you a pasta lover? Who isn’t these days.  With the high population around Ramsey being Italian, there are more than a good share of pasta eaters around.

An average cup of pasta contains around 400 calories.  The average pasta meal at any food chain restaurant is over 1000 calories.  That probably means around 2+ cups of pasta, and then sauce.  Think about that the next you visit one of Ramseys restaurants: Olive Garden, Fridays, Chilis, or Macaroni Grill on Rt 17.

Each plate contains 1 cup.

Each plate contains 1 cup.

Last night I decided to give something a try that I’ve heard good things about.  You’ve probably seen from the headline what it is: spaghetti squash.  Inside I’ve got a good video about cooking, and my own take on this dish.

[click to continue…]

Sharing Helps and Makes Me Happy :)
  • Print
  • Add to favorites
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Ping.fm
  • RSS
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz

{ 2 comments }

Hey my Ramsey friends, how was your holiday so far?  Hopefully Christmas or Hanukkah were great for you and your families.  This is a quick update to let you know about a special New Years resolution buster for your body.

What kind of results do you think you could achieve after 21 days of exercise?  What if I said you could be well on your way to the body you’ve always wanted? Would you believe me?

I certainly hope so. Because I am offering a super special deal to my friends in Ramsey (and beyond) that beats all other personal training sales.  21 days of membership to GET FIT Boot Camps.  21 days of awesome fat burning workouts gauranteed to jump start you towards your goals for 2010.

Take a look at this amazing offer at: Rapid Fat Loss Boot Camp

Sharing Helps and Makes Me Happy :)
  • Print
  • Add to favorites
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • MySpace
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Ping.fm
  • RSS
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz

{ 0 comments }