Archive for the ‘fitness’ Category
Saturday, September 17th, 2011 |
So last week at work I took some photos for a newsletter article we are preparing.
While we knew the photo had to be eventually taken, we did it on the spur of the moment. With a bit of begging and pleading. And a few “but you looking so pretty today, perfect for a photo” comments.
I took the photo while joking and laughing with the group of 6 and we got a few good ones, I thought.
I e-mailed it to them and immediately got a response: “Oh Abby, I look so fat!”
This from someone who is neither fat nor thin. Just perfect. And I have told her many times.
She is a young, beautiful, educated woman definitely going places if she chooses, with a matching partner and gorgeous little boy of less than two years old. And she is sweet and friendly.
But she keeps telling me she’s fat!
So I’ve been wondering why women do that. Why make that statement at all?
It’s not like I ever get e-mails saying “Oh, I’m so short/tall/white/black/brown/orange”. Please Photoshop me perfect. Well, not in quite the same numbers nor with the same level of shame and anguish!
Is being more than skinny really that bad? Is it worse than being a rude, angry person. Or a hypocrite? Or a criminal?
Why is there this focus on diets and food in the media? In magazines, on tv programmes. Just about everywhere you can find ways to slim down.
To stay healthy and live longer they tell us, almost with self-righteousness.
Lose some weight – fast or slow. Just do it!
For all the good she has done, Oprah hasn’t helped women’s self-esteem issues where weight is concerned.
When do we see her at her most vulnerable? When she’s confessing her addiction to food or something to do with losing or gaining weight.
She’s a billionaire. And she’s smart with a perfect partner, a best friend above all best friends and cute dogs. And has amazing houses all over the show.
But her weight issues make us not envy her too much. Makes her one of us.
Maybe if we took the focus off weight issues and put them it where it belongs, on being who we are meant to be, women would be less likely to be so critical of their physical selves.
Oprah and my colleague are both successful in many ways (and in their own ways), so they likely think it makes them easier to relate to when they talk about their weight.
But it continues the cycle. Because some other woman hears this, compares herself to the thinnest woman she can find and thinks: “I look fat!”
Posted in diet, fitness, Healthy living, Life | No Comments »
Thursday, June 16th, 2011 |
Another day, another diet, people. And this one is apparently recommended by all and sundry as “the best diet of all”.
It’s for weight loss of course, but also for those with heart disease and for diabetics.
Any diet that encourages eating plenty of natural food is alright with me.
However, as always, this blog discourages diets of any sort. Eating healthy natural food and enjoying exercise in whatever form that makes you happy is the way to go.
But if you choose a diet, here’s another one for Monday. It looks sensible enough to me.
Here’s a day of typical meals on a 2,000-calorie DASH diet at a 2,300 mg. sodium level. Substitutions for a 1,500 mg. sodium level are in parentheses.
Breakfast
¾ cup bran flakes cereal (¾ cup shredded wheat cereal) with 1 medium banana and 1 cup low-fat milk
1 slice whole-wheat bread with 1 tsp. (unsalted) margarine
1 cup orange juice
Lunch
Sandwich—
2 slices whole-wheat bread
¾ cup (unsalted) chicken salad
1 tbsp. Dijon (regular) mustard
Salad—
½ cup fresh cucumber slices
½ cup tomato wedges
1 tbsp. sunflower seeds
1 tsp. low-calorie Italian dressing
½ cup fruit cocktail
Dinner
3 ounces beef, eye of the round, with 2 tbsp. fat-free beef gravy
1 cup green beans, sautéed with ½ tsp. canola oil
1 small baked potato topped with 1 tbsp. fat-free sour cream, 1 tbsp. grated, reduced-fat natural (low-sodium) cheddar cheese and 1 tbsp. chopped scallions
1 small whole-wheat roll with 1 tsp. (unsalted) soft margarine
1 small apple
1 cup low-fat milk
Snacks
1/3 cup almonds, unsalted
¼ cup raisins
½ cup fat-free, no-sugar-added fruit yogurt on a 2,000-calorie DASH diet at a 2,300 mg. sodium level. Substitutions for a 1,500 mg. sodium level are in parentheses.
Breakfast
¾ cup bran flakes cereal (¾ cup shredded wheat cereal) with 1 medium banana and 1 cup low-fat milk
1 slice whole-wheat bread with 1 tsp. (unsalted) margarine
1 cup orange juice
Lunch
Sandwich—
2 slices whole-wheat bread
¾ cup (unsalted) chicken salad
1 tbsp. Dijon (regular) mustard
Salad—
½ cup fresh cucumber slices
½ cup tomato wedges
1 tbsp. sunflower seeds
1 tsp. low-calorie Italian dressing
½ cup fruit cocktail
Dinner
3 ounces beef, eye of the round, with 2 tbsp. fat-free beef gravy
1 cup green beans, sautéed with ½ tsp. canola oil
1 small baked potato topped with 1 tbsp. fat-free sour cream, 1 tbsp. grated, reduced-fat natural (low-sodium) cheddar cheese and 1 tbsp. chopped scallions
1 small whole-wheat roll with 1 tsp. (unsalted) soft margarine
1 small apple
1 cup low-fat milk
Snacks
1/3 cup almonds, unsalted
¼ cup raisins
½ cup fat-free, no-sugar-added fruit yogur
Posted in diet, fitness | No Comments »
Thursday, November 26th, 2009 |
Michelle Obama’s arms have probably gotten more coverage than her husband’s policy decisions.
Apparently women have been asking their personal trainers how to get their arms like Mrs Obama’s pretty much like some wanted the Rachel, Victoria Beckham or even Farrah Fawcett haircut over the years.
According to Women’s Health it isn’t as easy as a hair cut though. And I can testify to that fact.
Michelle Obama has a full body workout – doing cardio, weight training and a whole host of other training to look as gorgeous as she does.
From her photos you can tell that she doesn’t have much body fat anywhere – much less her arms.
I found this workout for arms on Women’s Health – although it doesn’t only target arms.
Personally I do yoga exercise most days (around 6 days a week), weight training with 2kg dumb bells, walk most week days for 30 minutes as well as pilates (or other strength training about 3 times a week). Plus when I get the courage again, I will add road running to that list in the next few weeks.
Even though I don’t look anything like Mrs Obama, I absolutely love training and feel lifeless and drab when I don’t.
Posted in diet, fitness | No Comments »
Monday, August 10th, 2009 |
So time.com reported on studies that claim walking is just as good for us as running.
Health-wise that might be so, however running as other benefits too.
As a runner and walker, running just makes me feel better.
Although I love walking too.
Shapemag, Dec 2008, says running:
- Makes you happy – it’s those glorious endomorphins baby! It’s what gives us that runner’s high.
- Leads to better sex!. When I told a colleague I was running she warned me that another colleague had conceived when she took up running – with the help of her husband, of course! Its the increased blood flow around the body, I’m told, that increases sex drive.
- Keeps you young as it stimulates the pituitary gland, increasing the human growth hormone.
- Lengthens your life, because it reduces may chronic diseases like heart disease, breast cancer, hypertension, etc.
- Gives you energy due to increased circulation and a better metabolism.
- Strengthens your bones as running works directly on the bones in your legs, hips and lower back.
- Helps you sleep better if you don’t run within 3 hours of bedtime. The more rigerous you run, the better you’ll sleep later.
- Builds confidence when you train for and reach a goal. And of course your new physique will make you feel great!
Posted in fitness, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 |
With just 4 days (including today!) to go to the Two Ocean’s Half Marathon, I have been checking out the route. Online.
Although I know the area and live within a few kilometres of it, I’m too chicken to check it out in person. Firstly I don’t want to psyche myself out with the apparently 3km hill that awaits me. Secondly, I’m just plain chicken!
Anyway, according to the official website:
Start point : Main Road in Newlands (opposite Newlands swimming pool)
Right into Aliwal Road (approx 3.2km down Main Road)
Right into Carr Hill Road
Left into Waterloo
Straight into Bower Road
Left into Constantia Road, around the circle at the intersection of Gabriel Road, back into Constantia Road and under M3 highway
Left into Spaanschemat River Road
Turn before the traffic lights at end of Spaanschemat River Road and Ladies Mile Extension and return to Constantia Road
Thereafter along Constantia Road on the right allowing deliveries to Constantia Village from Ladies Mile Extension
Right into Parish road
Turn left into Southern Cross Drive and continue to the top to Rhodes Drive
Turn right into Rhodes Drive and continue past Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens to Newlands Avenue / Union Avenue intersection
Turn left into Union Avenue
Finish UCT sportsfields, upper campus.
The official Two Oceans 21km website has been brilliant with advice. They even indicate where water/replenishing stations will be situated throughout the race.
So there goes one of my concerns.
The nerves are starting to set in, although I’m trying to relax as much as possible.
Tomorrow, 8 April registration starts and continues on 9th and 10th at the Good Hope Centre! From 10am to 8pm.
Good Luck to everyone else doing the Ultra and Half Marathons. See you on the road!
Posted in fitness, two oceans | No Comments »
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