STUDY SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY EPIDEMIC
ACSM journal article probes relationship between childhood obesity, physical activity

INDIANAPOLIS — Scientists may have discovered a new trend in childhood obesity, according to research published this month in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise_®, the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. In comparing physical activity levels among American children, researchers discovered that the most overweight and obese ethnic groups are also some of the most active. This work adds to a growing understanding of the complex relationships among physical activity, nutrition, weight management, fitness and health.

The study “Physical Activity in U.S. Youth: Effect of Race/Ethnicity, Age, Gender, and Weight Status” reports that of the three ethnic groups compared – Caucasian, black and Mexican American – Caucasian children are overall the least active. Black children, on the other hand, are the most active. This finding is surprising, experts say, because the highest prevalence of obesity occurs in some of the more active groups – black and Mexican American children.

“Contrary to our expectations, higher levels of physical activity were not associated with lower rates of obesity across the race and ethnic groups,” said Britni Belcher, M.P.H., the lead author of the study.

The research team, representing the University of Southern California and National Institutes of Health, compared 3,106 American children, looking at age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, physical activity and dietary intake. Accelerometers measured participants’ physical activity for four days, providing data on each child’s levels of sedentary, moderate, vigorous and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Researchers suggest that general predisposition to obesity, socioeconomic status and cultural differences in behavior may play a role in the study’s findings.

“This paradox may be accounted for by the fact that non-Hispanic white youth may spend more time in activities not captured well by accelerometry, such as swimming or bicycling,” said Donna Spruijt-Metz, Ph.D., associate professor at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine and senior author. “These differences could also be attributed to the higher socioeconomic status found in the non-Hispanic white youth because higher socioeconomic status has been related to lower risk of obesity.”

The study also finds that children are less active after they hit puberty, as the 6-11 age group engaged in twice as much physical activity as children in the 12-15 and 16-19 age groups. Additionally, Spruijt-Metz and her colleagues find that males engage in more physical activity than females, irrespective of race or ethnic group. In fact, females of normal weight generally achieved less physical activity than their obese male counterparts.

Data from this study are from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study, a cross-sectional health interview survey representative of the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population. All analyses were conducted in SAS 9.1 (SAS Institute, Inc.) using specialized procedures.

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The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 40,000 international, national and regional members and certified professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise_® is the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, and is available from Lippincott Williams & Wilkins at 1-800-638-6423. For a complete copy of the research paper (Vol. 42, No. 12, pages 2211-2221) or to speak with a leading sports medicine expert on the topic, contact the Department of Communications and Public Information at 317-637-9200 ext. 127 or 133. Visit ACSM online at www.acsm.org.

The conclusions outlined in this news release are those of the researchers only, and should not be construed as an official statement of the American College of Sports Medicine

The economic downturn and skyrocketing food prices have forced most Americans to rein in spending, in an effort to keep monthly food costs in check. Not planning meals and not creating a shopping list are two mistakes that cost shoppers more in the long run. Planning is essential to eating well, especially when dollars don’t go as far as they once did. A healthy diet is affordable with a little planning, smart shopping and basic cooking skills. As fitness professionals, we can offer some budget-friendly shopping strategies that will help our clients find ways to eat well on the cheap.

Meal-Planning Tips

• Check your fridge and cupboards to see what you already have on hand that you can use.
• Plan meals around the best weekly store specials. Stock up on sale items if space allows.
• Use coupons only for items you already buy.
• Get inspired by exploring one of the many online recipe finders, or check out a cookbook from the library.
• Add more meatless meals. Meat is the most expensive part of a meal.
• Use leftovers, to save time and money.
• Keep a running shopping list and jot down items when you run out. To make shopping easier, organize the list around your grocery store layout.
• Keep all your weekly meal plans. In no time, you’ll have a monthly menu cycle and a “go-to” list of quick meals.

 Shop Smart 

Use these tips to “work the store” to your advantage:

• Stick with an organized list.
• Eat first. Hungry shoppers overbuy and usually purchase prepared (less healthy) foods.
• Shop alone if possible. A partner and/or children tagging along can quickly stray from the list and increase the food bill. However, shopping with kids is a nice way to teach them smart shopping habits, so if they come along, set expectations before leaving the house.
• Get a grocery store loyalty card.
• Shop the perimeter to fill up on fruits and vegetables, protein and dairy.
• Look for bargains near the ends of aisles and on the upper and lower shelves. Cheaper, generic store brands are typically found on lower and upper shelves and have the same nutritional profile as name brands.
• Compare unit prices of different product sizes and brands. Unit prices are found on the shelf tags below the food items.
• Buy in bulk.
• Make your own single-serving snack packs from larger bags of food.

Preparing Food at Home

 After shopping, dedicate a little time to organizing food at home.

• Divide large packages of raw meat into smaller meal portions.
• When you have time, brown meat and chicken, package them and freeze them for use in meals later.
• Clean and cut up vegetables for meals and snacks that will be eaten within a few days. Wait to wash others just before eating.
• Cook in batches, and freeze extras.
• Keep a frozen-food inventory so that unknown meals don’t get buried in the freezer.
• Toss food into a slow cooker in the morning so that dinner is ready when you get home.
• Use the plate method: fill half the plate with fruits and veggies, one-quarter with protein and one-quarter with whole grain.
• Cook with friends. Take turns hosting a small group to plan meals, share recipes and cook large batches of food. Package the meals for everyone to take home and freeze.

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The Longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on LIFE. Attitude to me is more important that facts, its more important than failures, than successes, than what other people think say or do. It is it more important thank appearance, giftedness or skill.

 It will make or break a company….A church…A home. The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day reguarding the attitude we will embrace that day. We can not change our past… We cannot change that people will act in a certain way. WE cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have and that is our attitude… I am convinced that LIFE is 10 Percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it, and so it is with you…. We are incharge of our attitudes.

Many or you know for the past 20+ years I dont usually train and work in the same place/gym.  So this year, I joined as a family for the summer and as planned ending the membership by September, ($150/month)

I canceled my membership with Lifetime rep Michael on 7/24/10 and as of today they are still billing my credit card!

When the terms and conditions of their contract wher fulfilled. In September, I spoke to GM Travis Christopherson explaining the problem and he assured me that he would correct the problem and refund the money.. I am not the first and it sounds like LT may be in for a class action law suit.

Obviously I am not a fan of LifeTime Fitness customer service and how they do business.

Dont get me wrong it is a beautiful facility and I have many friends who are members and who work there!  But someone has to stand up and say its WRONG When Its Wrong!
Those who have similar problems feel free to reply!

It seems to happen every holiday season.

You attend parties and office gatherings to share a few festive moments with family, friends, colleagues and lots and lots of food. But when the holiday season is finally over, the bathroom scale reveals that you’ve gained some weight again, much to your chagrin.

Research studies show most adults gain some weight over the holidays. But don’t despair because this year can be different.

“I recommend to my patients that they just try to keep their current weight, as opposed to focusing on losing weight,” says Julia Renee Zumpano, RD, LD, registered dietitian, Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation. “Even though it’s hard to resist temptations all around you, there are simple steps you can take that can keep the extra holiday pounds off.”

How can you try to maintain your weight and heart-health during such a tempting time? We’ve conjured up these tips to surviving the holiday hoop-la that is sure-fire success – this season and in the future ones to come.

1. Get moving
One of the most effective ways to maintain or lose body weight is to engage in regular, sustained aerobic activity (*).To burn off those extra calories, kick up your exercise. If you exercise for 30 minutes a day, increase it to 45 minutes. If you exercise three times a week, move it up to five times a week.

Exercise is a great way to burn those extra calories you may be taking in this time of year (remember those iced reindeer cookies you had with lunch?). Here are some ideas to get you moving:

•If you have a stationery bicycle or treadmill at home, dust it off and put it in front of the television or radio for some background entertainment while you’re exercising. Why not watch your favorite television show and exercise at the same time?
•Go to the library and get a book on tape or CD, listen to it and read (so-to-speak) as you exercise.
•Haven’t used your gym-pass in awhile? Hire a personal trainer to teach you effective calorie-burning techniques, or join that kick boxing class you’ve always wanted to try.
•Go for a morning or evening walk alone or with a friend.
•Put a little kick in your cleaning technique. Fire up some music and dance while you clean. Who ever knew cleaning could be so fun?
•Have bad knees or other joints? Don’t worry – water aerobics or swimming is your answer! The water prevents your weight bearing down on the joints and is an effective way to burn calories.
(*) If you haven’t exercised in at least 6-months, check with your doctor first before starting.

2. Aim for seven-a-day
Making sure you eat seven or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day is a great way to help fill-up your stomach but not your calorie level. When compared to other snack foods like chips, crackers and cookies, gram for gram, fruits and vegetables contain fewer calories and tons more nutrients. What’s more – the fiber in fruits and vegetables fill you up faster than traditional snack foods. Pack your refrigerator with bags of cut-up vegetables and whole or cut-up fruits. Grab a bag while on the go or at work. Make a pact with yourself that you’ll eat your five-a-day before you snack on any cookies or other holiday treats. You’re sure to take in fewer calories overall.

3. Control the risk for temptation
Controlling even the slightest chance of coming in contact with ‘tempting’ foods is one way to effectively reduce your intake. While you won’t be able to control all situations, focus on the many ones you can. For example, do you keep candy or cookies at your desk or workspace? Do you frequent the dining room table or pantry where you store all your holiday goodies? Make a mental note of tempting places and try to control them. For example, make a pact with co-workers that goodies will be kept solely in the break room, not at the front desk or in various offices. Mentally plan out how you will avoid tempting situations. If you can’t avoid them entirely, see number 4.

4. Limit to one-a-day
While you can’t control every situation, you can control how much food goes into your mouth. If you are constantly bombarded with holiday parties and displays of desserts or candies you can still effectively help prevent overeating and weight gain. One way is the one-a-day method. Allow yourself one small serving of a cookie or piece of candy each day during the holiday season. Remember that you may have to compensate for it later in the day by reducing your total caloric intake or by burning a few extra calories while exercising. If you aren’t confronted with holiday foods that day, just skip your one-a-day – but don’t compensate and double-up on your serving the next day.

5. Always plan ahead – Never go to a party hungry
Before you go to a holiday party, eat a healthy snack such as a serving of your favorite fruit, fat-free yogurt or a low-fat, whole grain granola bar. When you arrive at the party, you won’t be craving hors d’oeuvres.

“If you’re going to a potluck dinner, bring a healthy dish to share such as a salad, veggie or fruit tray, or a low-fat pudding, Jell-O or fruit dessert,” says Zumpano. “That way, you’ll know you have at least one healthy item on the table spread.”

6. Be in charge of your party choices:
•Small plate, please – Be wise when choosing appetizers – a small portion of some appetizers may help you from overeating at dinner.
“Pick up a small plate, and stick with vegetables, but limit or avoid the creamy dips,” advises Zumpano. ‘Restrict your intake of butter crackers, chips, cheese and meats. If you must have a deep-fried appetizer, eat only one small serving. Never go back for seconds. For dinner, fill half of your plate with salad and vegetables, one quarter with meat, and the final quarter with starch,” Zumpano says.
•Avoid the sauce – Avoid sauces made from cream, half-and-half or meat drippings. For salads, use oil and vinegar, vinaigrette or low-fat dressings. Broth -based or vegetable sauces are fine.
“For dinner, fill half of your plate with salad and vegetables, one quarter with meat, and the final quarter with starch,” Zumpano says.
• What about desserts? The best low-calorie choices are fruit, Jell-O, pudding, an unfrosted mini muffin, shortbread cookies, ginger snaps or angel food cake. If you must have a dessert with frosting, butter cream, cream cheese, or chocolate chips, limit yourself to one small cookie or one thin slice of cake.
• Watch the drinks
“Besides restricting your alcohol to one or two servings, you also need to restrict the type of alcohol,” says Zumpano. “For example, instead of high-fat eggnog, have a light beer or wine. After that, stick with calorie-free drinks such as water, unsweetened ice tea, hot tea or coffee.”
7. Say No Politely
Many times you feel forced to eat foods because people keep putting it in front of you. Learn to say no politely, such as “No thank you, I’ve had enough. Everything was delicious”, or “I couldn’t eat another bite. Everything tasted wonderful”. You’ll find saying no isn’t so hard to do after all.

8. Focus on socializing
Don’t stand around the food table when you are at a party – focus your energies on making conversation with others instead of focusing on foods. Conversation is calorie-free.

IF you are ready to start today… do not delay pick up the phone can call 402.445.0033

Remember, the holidays are meant to celebrate good times with family and friends. Enjoy the holidays and plan effective strategies to help you achieve your weight loss goals. Achieving what you sought out for will give you one more good reason for holiday cheer! Happy Holidays!

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit”
(Proverbs 18:21, NIV)

Have you noticed that our words have creative power. Whenever we speak something out, either good or bad, we are giving life to what we are saying. Too many people go around saying negative things about themselves, their family, and their future. Things like, “I’ll never be successful. This sickness is going to get the best of me. Business is so slow I don’t think I’m going to make it. Flu season is coming. I’ll probably get it.” They don’t realize they are prophesying their future. The Scripture says, “We will eat the fruit of our words.” That means we’re going to get exactly what we’ve been saying…  Just stop a moment and thing about your life or someone you know…Its the TRUTH!

Here is the key: you’ve got to send your words out in the direction you want your life to go. You cannot talk defeat and expect to have victory. You can’t talk lack and expect to have abundance. You will produce what you’ve been saying. With your words you can either bless or curse your future. Make sure your words are what God says about you so you can move forward in the life of blessing He has in store for you!

 So here we are, here are now if you have never known or acknowledged this before then NOW you can begin making a difference! It’s time to get our lives right..ALL of us lets do it together in all areas of life.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the creative power in my words. Thank You for the opportunity to work with You to set my life on the course of victory. I choose to use my words to bless others and receive Your blessing in my own life in return. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Ingredients

• 3/4 pound small red-skinned potatoes, halved, or quartered if large
• Kosher salt
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus 1 tablespoon leaves
• 1 clove garlic, smashed
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• Juice of 2 lemons (squeezed halves reserved)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts (6 to 8 ounces each)
• 10 ounces cremini mushrooms, halved

Directions

“If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win.”
- Carl Lewis