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Confrontation Kills

Thu, 3 May 2012 14:29:18 -0400

My mantra in everything in life - in all relationships is:
Pick your battles CAREFULLY!

It is not just about being a “Nice guy”- nice perk - but there is so much more to it. We all talk about stress - stress is involved in many physiological, emotional & psychological disorders, the problem is often the root manifestation of the stress is not addressed. We need to look how our stressors are exacerbating our physiological stress responses & control our physiological reactions - scientifically - not through alcohol, smoking & poor food choices - where people wrongfully turn. Stress, like many illnesses is best fought through prevention. One of our best ways to prevent stress is learning ways to avoid confrontation - a bit of a maturity lesson here!

Physiological response to stress: Let’s do a brief review here as to how we respond to stress physiologically - which is of greatest consequence. Our bodies constantly strive for internal homeostasis - status quo. Stress puts us into that infamous fight or flight mode - which initiates a cascading hormonal response - which is why - preventing stress in the first place through mental & physical conditioning - is the very best form of stress management - don’t open the hormonal Pandora’s box to start with.

The hypothalamus in the brain secretes ARH (adrenocorticotrophic releasing hormone)
ARH stimulates pituitary to release ACTH
ACTH stimulates adrenals to release noradrenaline, adrenalin and cortisol into the body's bloodstream.

Tag...you’re it.....the invasion of physiological stressors. Now don’t get me wrong - our body’s do this for a good reason - however, when we have this stress reaction too frequently - this is when it upsets our personal physiological ecosystem. In fact - this hormonal hijacking effects the cardio respiratory, digestive (BIG TIME), musculo skeletal, endocrine, metabolic, sexual & central nervous systems......so suffice it to say every organ is impacted by the response. I emphasize the digestive one - the role of digestion in every aspect of our health is paramount - our enteric nervous system.

Stress management and mismanagement: Unfortunately, the WRONG path to stress reduction is taken. Often smoking, alcohol, bingeing, wallowing on the sofa are the crutch - that crutch will crumble underneath you and send you spiraling & tumbling further into a further stressed physiological state. No smoking does NOT help you relax, alcohol does NOT help you relax - you have been poorly & inaccurately conditioned yourself to believe this works. Sorry - its like putting butter on a burn. Appropriate exercise, good sound nutrition - assuring you are getting the right balance of micronutrients, staying away from sugar, alcohol & smoking any nasties are the best ways to tame the stress monster. Let me know if you would like any further articles on this.

Often not recognized we are sporting a neon flashing confrontational attitude, it is a great way to self inflict stress Again, a good hard, honest look at our own behavior and aura are paramount here. We all are “aurized” with emotion of some kind (yes I made up another word) and yes, self introspection is not easy.
My personal mantra in life is Shalom Bayit - peace in the home. Remember playing tag when we were kids - and out safe place we couldn’t be nabbed was “home base” ? Home should be all about serious exhaling, wash away the stress of the day, breathe, self debrief & reenergize. Home is the very first place to declare a confrontation free zone. My best advice to anyone personally & professionally & most certainly as a parent - pick your battles very carefully - than plan a good peaceful strategy.

“A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” - Mahatma Gandhi....the same man who brought to us the concept of passive resistance.

How confrontation kills:

Gandhi had great advice. Think of our culture, the fabric of who we are being housed in our hearts & souls - now emanate.

Ways to avoid confrontation: Avoiding confrontation & finding more peaceful ways to negotiate is NOT being a softie. Au contraire - it really means you have the maturity & mental focus & patience to handle a situation with thought, respect & great skill.

A good negotiator knows to look at the other person’s perspective & reason. If we are myopic & self centered, we bang our heads against a while in frustration “why don’t they get I’m right” & there are many who get great joy in being viewed as an adversary - they will happily keep goading you on. Never let them see you sweat. Composure commands much greater awe, listening & a much greater chance the other side of the debate will at least consider. If you are seen as hot headed, dare I say pig headed, you are instantly viewed as “don’t know what you're talking about” & stubborn. The line between confidence & tenacity vs. mule & closed minded is not a fine one at all. One incurs respect, the other encourages scorn, obscene body language & yes will reflect back to you.......as foe, not friend. I can feel the blood pressure smoking!

* You don’t always have to be right, know it all, have the right opinion.....as I always say...could you imagine if we all decorated our houses the same, had the same taste in clothes...how boring would this world be!. Respect & Celebrate differences.
* Maybe, just maybe, the other person does actually know something, have a good idea to consider or there really is some middle of the road? Opening our minds to compromise & alternatives is yet another way to tap our creativity.
* Please be respectful while “in discussion”. Nothing personal. Do not put the other person down in order to elevate your own self opinion.
* Breathe!!! Deep breaths, pause to think, show consideration of the other’s view, take a drink of water, smile, don’t fold your arms - body language often speaks louder than words
* Smile: Perhaps the greatest universal currency. If this person is someone who you regularly see, make sure you smile around this person, you are friend not foe, you can respect differences.
* Sense of humor: The most powerful word tool. Humor peels the backs off the wall, laughing makes you both breathe & shows you want to discuss with civility
* Don’t make such a big deal! Agree to a solution & move on. End the conversation with an unrelated item and make the person laugh.
* Are you micromanaging? Aka...control freak. Always, ask yourself on a scale of 1-10, where this lies in importance. Not “because I’m the Mom thats why”...again.....

Pick your battles carefully!

Confrontational is an aura that wafts. Our aura we emit greets the other person well before the handshake. First impressions are often calculated in milli seconds. How others react to us , we often determine, unknowingly. The reverb of anxiety mounts. Chill, smile, its OK to think, its a welcomed challenge, not a battle.

Memory Lane: GPS The Road to Hell

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:04:52 -0400

Star Crossed Lovers: lovers whose relationship is supposedly under attack by outside forces (scapegoating 101) - the stars are working against the relationship. Sorry to all you die hard romanticists & fairy tale weavers.......but what it really means is...the relationship is not working we can’t get it together and we would rather define insanity than try something new and move on. It justifies clinging to our past and why we can’t allow change - even if it is for our betterment. No matter how toxic the relationship - better the devil we know than the devil we don’t know. Further translation.....this is the origin of bad habits...fear of moving on. Where relationship disasters & fitness fears fester. Yes, they are related - learned helplessness.

Einstein’s definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. We all cringe in disbelief when we hear about an abused child that clings to the abusive parent rather than face the anxiety of separation. We are no different. We cling to the has beens, the emotional & physical zappers rather than face potential rejection or ....heaven forbid the f word - failure. Failure is only failure when we choose to slink back to our toxic cocoon and spin more suffocating walls of deflection. Failure can be a wonderful, super charged launch for success.

Most people can relate to clinging to a past relationship for comfort. We know how dysfunctional it was ....don’t confuse me with the facts. Attachment and love are NOT the same thing. Fear causes cling which we thinks makes us happy - beats the terrifying alternative of the unknown.

Fearful thoughts of Love: Fearful thoughts of a healthier lifestyle:

I’ll never feel loved again What if I quit
I don’t want to be alone What if I gain my weight back
Wow I screwed that one up! I look awful in gym clothes
Others will think I can’t commit bodies at the gym are so perfect
Others will think I can’t satisfy This is my 10th time trying to stop smoking

Just love that Freud guy. Pleasure & Pain
Pleasure = courage, our happy place, pride, love, lust......
Pain = disappointment, fear, Loneliness, depression.......
The trick: learn to use that pain to catapult our ...s make a change, and bring about our own pleasure. I truly believe we don’t even recognize pleasure unless we worked for it and accomplished it ourselves. Take a look at many people you know - life was handed to them on a silver platter - Mommy & Daddy did all - the latest & greatest in everything. Is that pleasure - No - Usually people who have had others “do their pleasure for them” have a sense of entitlement not a sense of hard work to accomplish self pride & pleasure. Very often get them to do something on their own, a sense of learned helplessness. We need to achieve happiness on our own in order for it to empower us. Use those fearful thoughts as a precious resource to move us to take action.
When working with clients - one of the best tools I have as a fitness professional is the client’s history with fitness. What have they tried, success, challenges, setbacks....all of these provide us great insight as to how we can hone our efforts - more fine tuned - to ensure adherence, client comfort sense of success. Works in relationships too - what worked in past relationships, what were the saboteurs, how did I grow.....

Taking Control - of ourselves and not trying to control others. We can’t control others - but as I constantly refer to with our health - taking control of our health - having self discipline to celebrate a health centric lifestyle - is freedom. Being in control of our behaviors is the very best way to reduce stress and anxiety. We are not being led around by “some external force” we are our own guiding force. The example I use for control is the classic dog walking metaphor. We have all seen dog owners walk Fido - and really Fido is in control - stretching out the arms and legs of poor flaccid human ....as he or she is clearly tumbling down the hierarchy of the pack in the dogs mind. We all laugh saying “who is taking who for a walk?” Yes, dogs can smile, victory is so sweet.

We have to take control of our own leash, and reign in our saboteurs so we may take the lead. Most effective way to do this: focus on the positive:

-release regrets: get off of memory lane....no dwelling on mistakes
-self forgiveness....move on
-don’t think about time lost - think about time ahead, all the potential & how to get there
-create separation from saboteurs
-connect with positive influences
-focus on the benefits of moving on

All of these will enable us to maintain supremacy over those inner urges that hold us back. l will not be controlled by circumstances. Learned helplessness is an insidious disease that dominates our thoughts & behaviors - including relationship grieving, adopting healthier lifestyle habits. It can unknowingly undermine our emotional, physical & spiritual health and stop us from moving on! Make sure memory lane is NOT the road to hell.

“The amount of happiness achieved depends on the amount of freedom in our hearts!”

Replacing Meal Replacement Programs

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:16:16 -0400

The magic bullet - aka the quick fix - real translation? “how can I put in the least amount of effort and drop the most pounds.” Our desperation to fit into skinny jeans makes us easy prey for empty promise marketers. The saddest part? More people waste more money on meal replacement programs, quick fix fad diets rather than investing in a gym membership & good healthy food. More time & energy is invested in pursuing “I found the perfect program this time” - desperately seeking solutions - rather than investing the time & the money in the true, proven over years, supportive of every aspect of health solution that will work every time. Only downside - the solution that works doesn’t fit with the instant generation’s fast fetish.

The marketers of these programs are preying off anxiety & desperation.
Their skill is NOT in making the perfect diet - mother nature created that long before - their skill is in pressing the “yes, yes!!...that is what I am looking for these guys get it!!!” button.

Many of these programs can cost hundreds of dollars per month. Most of all - these programs do NOT address the biggest problem of all - weight cycling. OK....so you might drop some pounds. According to every reliable scientific source - people who follow fad programs - have over an 80% chance of weight regain in the first 3 years - usually with those bonus 15% pounds. Meal replacement programs do not abide by the tried, true & proven rules of weight management. Review here:

The tried, tested, retested & proven strategy for weight management over the long term:

1) Exercise for a minimum of 60 minutes at least 6 days per week - & maintain physical activity through out the day. Maintain muscle mass - prevent sarcopenia.
2) A diet rich in fruits & vegetables
3) Eat a lower calorie diet, minimize saturated fat & sugar
4) Eat a protein packed breakfast
5) Monitoring weight
6) Getting enough Sleep

From my experience as a medical fitness professional - I will add to that list:

1) Make your own food - minimize eating out
2) If God didn’t make it - don’t eat it
3) Muscle Mass is your BFF - be your own body-guard

Following a health centric lifestyle where chronic disease prevention is the focal point - is the way to reach a healthy percentage of body fat & keep it there.
Also review what I’ve explained in other articles about fat cells- they only shrink - we have to find the lifestyle that will prevent them from growing in size again. There are many physiological battles to overcome to keep the weight off - but yes it is possible.

Learn to eat foods that provide our bodies the nutrition to fuel us through our lifestyle. Adopting a meal replacement program does not teach us a thing about discovering what our own body needs or weight maintenance. The bottom line is - lose body fat the same way we plan to keep it off. If we are losing body fat, maintaining muscle mass, energized & feeling great, skin & hair looking good, moods even....chances are we are nurturing our bodies effectively.

Many of these programs provide supplements. Supplements can be wonderful & be an integral part of a very successful complimentary therapy programs. Supplementation can also cause interactions with drug therapies & other supplements- there are contraindications. Some, can also fuel the growth of tumors, or contraindicated with heart issues. Those pushing a meal replacement program on you are NOT qualified to determine what is safe for you. Supplementation merely for a “weight loss” program is myopic. Learn to eat the right foods of the earth, the appropriate quantity for your lifestyle.

And yes - I am going to make this about time & money as well.
Looking for a “quick fix” is deprioritizing our health. Yes, I think I made up a word there. Excuse the brutal analogy here - but the tumor is usually only a part of the cancer. The cancer is a whole network of biochemical reactions going on in the body. The whole concept of controlling metastases is by catching the mechanism causing the growth of the cancer - not just the tumor. We have to change the environment that nurtured the excess adiposity condition.

What works for us for weight management now - may not work in another year. If we have lost muscle mass - than our entire metabolic system has changed - therefore, our “calories in calories out” formula has changed. Hormone levels change - change is the most predictable behavior of our bodies - the original “shock & awe”! Our bodies are the quickest to identify “been there done that” - we have to seek new ways to keep it humming - and yes, as we age - we have to work harder & far more creatively & relentlessly. That weight gain as we age moan - can often be attributed to that sarcopenia I referred to earlier - the medical jargon word for use it or lose it - muscle mass that is.

So here is the “Meal Replacement” Program I suggest:

Old Habit: Replacement

skipping breakfast Eat a healthy breakfast
Breakfast Cereal Oatmeal cooked in egg whites with berries
Eating out Make a meal at home of vegetables & lean proteins
Juice & pop Eat the fruit, crunchy vegetables
Sedentary at desk Get up, stretch & walk minimum 1/90 minutes
Don’t like fish Get over it
television, bars Workout at the gym
watching TV until all hours Shut it off and get some sleep

Yakking on the phone Go for a walk or play sports with friends
Fat Fido Walk the dog

***Every hour of television watching raises your risk of heart disease by 7%!!!!

BTW - Many gyms - you can still watch television - and workout!!!

And...we always want better for our children. Our children learn FAR MORE from what we role model vs. what we tell them. Teaching your kids to cook is right up there with reading, writing & arithmetic!

Everything I Need to Know In Life I Learned at the Gym

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:54:24 -0400

Reach...Push....Reach....Push

Let’s get over the jock paradigm of physical fitness - it is not just about the body image or the size clothing. Physical fitness is the epicenter of our health - it can determine our body’s resilience & recovery from chronic illness. Fitness is an integral link to cognitive skills & emotional resilience - not just because of the confidence boosting powers so highly touted on tabloid covers. Our brute determination to constantly set a new personal best in our physical aspirations necessarily infiltrates our emotional stamina. Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing our great Canadian Olympian Silken Laumann - the athlete who modelled tapping her tip top state of physical fitness to weave herself the emotional fabric of a great Canadian Redwood Tree.

For those who don’t remember Silken’s physically & emotionally brutal journey - in May 1992 at the world rowing competition, 10 weeks before the 1992 Barcelona Olympics - Silken was in a horrific rowing accident. Sparing you the gore & mangled muscles, Silken required 5 surgeries & weeks of intensive rehab- and she was told she would never row competitively again. Silken in perfectly Olympic physical & emotional fitness refused to succumb to such a diagnosis. She fought back - and won the bronze for Canada. She shared with me the many ways her physical and emotional strength continue to propel her through life’s inevitable hardships. She co parents a profoundly autistic daughter, work demands, personal challenges. Life’s hardships seem endless but our ultimate training is deflecting the many daily Katyusha rockets launched our way.

A quick physiological reminder here - our immune system - that is there to protect us from the common cold to cancer - is a pumpless system. It is reliant on strong muscles to pump it through the body. We often refer to a person who is of stronger emotional resilience as “thicker skinned” - impervious to the barrage of daily darts. And that oh so yummy muscle mass is the body’s best method of managing insulin. When insulin whacks out - so does our moods!

The key aspects of building emotional strength are:

*Self discipline - Self Control
*Effective Stress Management Skills

We build our thick skin the same way we build our muscle mass.

Reach.....Push......Reach....Push...... Feel burned out....Step it up a notch!

That surge of empowering hormones deflects those killer Katyushas.

Doing cardio respiratory fitness is the very best way to open the mind and envisage new ideas. Have a serious stressor causing you to lose sleep? Get on a treadmill or elliptical & fly. The sweatier & filthier the workout - the more the mind opens & thinks unstoppably. It forces us to breathe & oxygenate - & yes - rattle those hormones into a melodious harmony of power & creativity. Our racing heartbeat not only brings in fresh oxygen - it brings in a fresh outlook. BTW - I always recommend resistance based cardio respiratory fitness. Work those power pump muscles - really pump that blood, hard, back to the heart!

Those of us who are resistance training junkies know the infinite, truly indescribable rewards of graduating to a new level. Man or woman - and btw if you are a woman who worries ‘bout “getting ripped” - you are missing out. My blessing for you that you get “too ripped” - is your biggest problem in life.

We fitness fanatics know factually there is a direct correlation between our reach in exercise - and our reach in our emotional, spiritual & intellectual lives. The harder we push ourselves in a workout - the harder we push ourselves through life’s challenges. Exercise is the very best form of stress management. Turning to typical indulgences to relieve stress - smoking, alcohol, bingeing......these are all known physiological stressors - which by definition only increases stress. The bodily damage from these assailants ultimately makes us look & feel worse - because they are destroying us. Exercise - now you feel empowered and in control - we control our lives - our lives are not controlling us. Letting physiologically addictive substances - alcohol, cigarettes, sugar, saturated fat, salt govern behavior is breeding helplessness.
Helplessness is debilitating & metastatic, however, treatable with exercise....feeling strong, pumped & focused is extremely invigorating.

We also know that not all workouts are created equally - fact is some days we are more energized than others ...and some days we have to push a lot harder. Our daily lives are no different. Even if we have a day where we just take an easier walk on the treadmill - we feel we put in effort, oxygenated & toned - which equates to “ready”mode for our daily dilemmas. Remember to always give yourself a shout out for even smaller accomplishments:

I got up to go to the gym before work
I took Fido for a long walk
I added 5 pounds to the leg press
I added 2 reps to the set
I brought a healthy lunch to work and didn’t eat fast food
I did not touch the cookies at work
I went for a workout instead of drinks after work
I cut back on cigarettes daily - until I stop
I controlled the lowering of that weight (eccentric movement) at the gym and defied the force of gravity - - just as I control my behavior and destiny

Everything I need to know about life coping skills - I learned getting fit!

Cleansing & Detox

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:09:55 -0500

Probably the most common question I get these days as a Medical Fitness Professional is about cleansing aka “detox” - everybody seems to think this is caring for ourselves from within.
In few words - I am not a supporter of cleansing regimes or colonics - sorry. I am a huge believer in our bodies and our abilities - if we feed & operate them properly. Cleansing can be something our bodies do naturally daily - without unnatural interventions.

Without getting into a thesis - our intestinal tract is inhabited by billions of microbes - some are supportive of our digestive health, and some are hostile squatters. We are the peace keepers - we have to feed and cleanse our bodies naturally daily to defend the good & encourage their procreation & try and minimize the saboteurs. We also have to appreciate how our intestinal tract in literally at the center of our bodies. A well functioning gut is at the root of our health - and a serious influence on our physiological and emotional health. It determines how we digest & absorb the nutrients in our foods & how we fend off deadly intruders into our bodies. As well, thanks to the great research of Doctor Michael Gershon - author of “Our Second Brain” - we know our intestinal tract produces hormones critical to our emotional health - our happy hormone as I like to refer to it - Serotonin. We are not just what we eat - we are what we eat, digest & absorb.
When we take antibiotics - they kill the good bacteria as well as the destructive ones that are making us ill. Yes, antibiotics save lives & often are a necessity - however - I believe often a little too frequently popped. And even when a necessity - we have to accept we have to minimize the side effects.

Cleansing also takes the good with the bad. It flushes out the precious life saving bacteria as well. There is a huge risk to dehydration & upsetting the body’s electrolytic balance. In the case of more intrusive cleansing such as colonics - perforation is also a risk. Yes of course, before certain medical procedures that can save our lives such as colonoscopies - medicinal cleansing is a necessity. However - “recreational cleansing” as I call it - often rationalized as detox - I as well as many health professionals & GI specialists do not recommend these programs. I see these as crash, fad diets for the intestinal tract. If we keep ourselves to a certain proactive health protocol - our bodies are brilliant cleansing machines. We - as our bodies peace keeping force - have the ability to protect & defend our intestinal battle within.

And not surprisingly at all......its the same common denominators to every aspect of our health - to support a healthy intestinal balance is supporting heart health, protecting us from chronic illness, weight management.

-Exercise always comes first. Good strong exercise to strengthens the muscles, promotes circulations, boosts immune function - all critical for peristalsis - the muscular contractions through out the digestive tract passing food in a thorough & efficient manner. Exercise and frequent physical activity through out the day.

-Probiotics - notice I don;t just say acidophilus. Take a probiotic that contains many strains & billions of good bacteria. Eat your Greek yogurt & other food borne probiotics. And don’t forget your prebiotics. Prebiotics promote the growth of our intestinal flora - healthy bacteria & protect us from invading pathogens. Prebiotics - also known as fermentable fiber exist if fiber foods such as certain fruits and vegetables, whole grains, barley oatmeal.....again all foods that are integral to a healthy diet. Prebiotics also release short chain fatty acids in the colon promoting the absorption of many of our precious minerals - that are not always so easy for our bodies to absorb. Celery - is truly a hero to the intestinal tract. Others: Jerusalem Artichokes, bananas, garlic, onions, leeks, artichokes, chicory root, legumes.

-As always - stay away from processed foods, alcohol & sugar - they promote the growth of bad bacteria & pathogens.

-drink water, preferably not too much at meal time so it does not dilute digestive enzymes

-Eat naturally detoxifying foods: Beets, radishes, artichokes seaweed, broccoli,

- Fiber is our friend - both soluble & insoluble. The soluble absorbs water and pushes through the intestinal tract.

-Detox through your skin too - hot yoga, saunas.....that beautiful glow without the pregnancy!

-Breathe - Make sure you take deep cleansing breaths through out the day.

-An article unto itself - Glutamine is the amino acid of choice by our intestinal tract. Glutamine heals the intestinal tract. Food sources: beef, chicken, fish, dairy (especially cottage cheese), beets, beans, spinach....lots to choose from.

Our intestinal tract is not a very glamorous topic - however it is key in keeping us glamorous. Many invasive, unnatural cleansing & detox programs can ire the tract more than it can help. Adopting intestinal intuition here - is a much safer & much more effective way to optimize intestinal health. Our bodies are amazing machines - keep it running smoothly!

Shira - Medical Fitness Professional , Lifestyle & Weight Management Coach Holistic Nutrition & Exercise Specialist

Shira@fitfan4fun.com

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Allopathy - Rear View Mirror Medicine

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 18:42:44 -0400

Definition: Allopathy is the typical going to your medical doctor/provider (M.D.)
Naturopathy: A Naturopathic doctor (N.D) - holistic treatment. The most basic belief of naturopathy is the prevention of illness.

I am opening up this article with first saying, thank God for Allopathy, however, it is NOT God. There is no question allopathy performs miracles constantly. Where it falls seriously short - its rear view mirror health care. In fact, it has become sick care, and health care is becoming extinct in allopathy.

I would like to share my own personal story with you. My hopes is that nobody should suffer the way I did, or get tossed around by bumbling, myopic, closed minded specialists.

Back in my mid 20s, I started with hives. A round of hives would last about 3-6 months. Doctors would put me on antihistamines, and hopefully control them. They would go away for a few years, and come back - angrier each time. Each round of hives got nastier, and last longer. Over the years, I have seen 5 allergist immunologists, 3 dermatologists & 2 Gastroenterologists. There were a few times I had to go to the hospital & get a shot of adrenaline. Each round was more threatening.

My last round of hives started just over a year ago. They exploded “on to the scene”. I would wake up like cyclops (Greek Mythology - NOT X-Men!) - my eyes had merged into one. I would wake up with my throat swollen, hands, arms, legs.....and yes you can get hives there and there too! The immunologist I was seeing just kept layering on the antihistamines. Lets see.....there was prescription Reactine, Doxypin, Ketotifin, Attarax - I have no idea if I got these spellings right - I still was having horrid hives. I could not urinate properly, I was constantly dehydrated - not cool for someone who works out faithfully) I eat a very healthy, clean diet, - no smoking, drinking.....why was I being ravaged like this. My allergist’s last words to me were.....”well if this isn’t working.....we have to try - Prednisone. That is a 4 letter word to me. For those of you who are unaware of this drug - it can be dastardly & horrid - the ace card of allopathy. Yes I do understand it plays a major role in medicine - nope I ain’t going to take it.

So one morning back in August 2010 I woke up at 2:00 a.m. feeling cyclops creeping up from the underworld -my eye being the chosen battle zone, so I got up in tears. I wasn’t going to take Prednisone. My research began that instant. I am a well seasoned scientist, holistic nutritionist, I am a fitness professional - I could figure this out. My research began - the threat of prednisone was my trigger to take matters into my own hands.
I read, read, read. I learned all about hives from the naturopathic perspective, and the fact that hives could be a symptom of something else......not the problem themselves. I will not elaborate here - because I do not want any of you self diagnosing and I won’t diagnose you either. I determined supplements to take, based on what I thought the problem to be. I now became convinced my hives were due to a digestive issue. I will say, what I decided on are substances naturally produced by the body or found in our food - just now I needed them in therapeutic dosages. I clearly understood, due to my professional training, what I was taking. My hives COMPLETELY disappeared within 24 hours of starting the treatment. Just an fyi, I experimented over the next couple of months...if I cut back on the supplements I was taking - Cyclops emerged from Tartarus in a very fowl mood.

I am blessed with having the most wonderful family doctor on the face of the earth, and even though I was taking the hives out of the realm of allopathic medicine into naturopathy, he happily helped me brainstorm over my treatment, tried very hard to refer me to specialists who could explain my treatment, and ran tests that could offer us more information and eliminate other possibilities. I believe he truly kept me sane, & did not think I was practicing witchcraft or voodoo, & respected me as a scientist.

I often talk about in my corporate health programs not to perform chemoprophylaxis - that is popping supplements recklessly - assuming they can only do good & not harm. I did not want to be guilty of this myself - and as I always say I have a scientific mind & a chick flick heart. So now, I had to figure out - OK.....I need professional help understanding why this regiment is working - was my hypothesis correct? - and honing in more scientifically on my dosages of supplements.
The last allopathic specialist I saw was a “great GI” specialist here in Toronto. One of the many aspects of my disorder I was suspicious of was the possibility of permanent damage to the pancreas. She looked at me like I was insane, and offered to help me if my pancreas were damaged. Allopathy at its proudest moment. Suffice it to say that was just like the “prednisone” moment - and I said “f___ allopathy”. I called the Canadian College of Naturopathic Doctors & booked an appointment with the Robert Schad clinic.

There too, I cried - but this time with tears of joy. They did not think I was practicing witchcraft or voodoo - in fact - they told me I did most of the work for them - they have a really good idea of what was wrong - and have helped me fine tune my treatment. Please note, their knowledge proved to me that my hives were indeed a symptom of something much bigger going on, and yes indeed I easily could have had organ damage - if I would have stayed only in the allopathic world. I am sure allopathy would have happily helped me once I had organ damage, and there was surgery to be done or prescription meds to be prescibed - but thank God I am a serious believer in naturopathy & preventative medicine.

Just an fyi...I did try and tell the immunologist how I stopped my hives. He was not at all interested. Those in that field have their common mantra
“30%of people with hives we never know the reason....and they just have to learn to live with them”.

My question is....do you think, just maybe.....some of these 30% could be helped by naturopathy? Just maybe, they too can find relief the same way I did, and also prevent serious organ damage. Again, allopathy only saw the hives on their own as opposed to a red neon flashing light of much more serious issues going on. And yes, I am sure, given the opportunity, they would have happily prescribed me medication for my damaged pancreas....if I would have let it get that far.

Another btw - we also realized all the times antihistamines were working in previous years was NOT the typical reason an antihistamine works - my body was nabbing another ingredient from the antihistamines - not gonna tell - go to a naturopath.

As the CDC (Center for Disease Control) says, 75% of all chronic illnesses have a serious lifestyle factor & could have been prevented. There was no lifestyle factor here, there was an issue, possibly my entire life. We have to be more proactive about our own healthcare - and NOT trust it blindly in the hands of allopathy. Unfortunately, allopathy has become all about prescribing medication. If there is no prescription medication - there is no help. Please be your own advocate in the health care system. Yes they are swamped & yes abused by many. I urge all of you to take a more proactive approach & responsibility. Those hours I spent with the Naturopathic Doctors were the most enlightening look I have ever had at my physiology and entire being. They look at the entire body & what ails it, nutritional habits, exercise, lifestyle habits - as opposed to an allopathic specialist who only sees their own tiny piece (in less than 15 minutes) of our complex systemic interactions. This is not just about hives - any medical challenge.

I believe to get really great health care, we need to get East to meet West. I don’t think the pharmaceutical companies will ever allow that...but that’s another article.
Please, have your allopathic doctor, but please, have a Naturopathic doctor as well. And, take responsibility for your health. Eat healthy & exercise. Stop disease before it happens. Let your body be where East meets West - have your M.D. & N.D.

May you get at LEAST 60 minutes of exercise today!

Eat Exercise Live - Jan 25, 2011 - Feb. 15, 2011

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 13:12:12 -0500

The most common blessings we bestow upon people is good health & long life. We wish for ourselves that we should stay looking young and find that eternal fountain of youth.
My commitment to my business as a holistic nutritionist and a lifestyle fitness expert is that I will try my best to annihilate all the myths, trash & fantasies that are out there. I only want to bring you scientific fact - and most important of all - help you integrate these facts into your busy life. I don’t just wish thoughts for you flippantly - I truly want you to live a healthy fulfilled life. Know where to truly draw reward and pleasure as you hustle & bustle through life.
Fantasy: The fountain of youth. Fact: our sweat is really the curative waters of the fountain of youth. My favorite expression is the fountain of youth is filled with dumbbells.
To help you really be healthy, feel & stay looking young, please listen to the scientific facts I am handing you - on a silver platter - lined with the the keys to implementing them into your life. Make sure you turn the keys - because otherwise all these blessings are for not. Over the next few weeks, all of these great specialists will be on my Web Talk Radio show.
“Low fitness is as important a risk factor as smoking, and people who maintain activity and fitness are much less likely to lose function and independence as they age”. Dr. Blair is recognized world wide as THE guru on the importance of a physically active lifestyle. Physical inactivity is the biggest public health problem of the 21st century. It is the major contributing factor to heart disease (our #1 killer) cancer (our #2 killer).
The foods we eat are another major contributing factor to disease. Again most unfortunately, there are many archaic myths out there that unfortunately many people still abide by - denying themselves critical nutrition. The very best way to fight disease is to prevent it. Much of that is in our control with diet and exercise. A vital part of our nutrition in terms of heart health, disease prevention, weight maintenance are healthy fats. We can’t make blanket statements like all fats are bad in the nutrition business. When it comes to fats , it is not just about being saturated or unsaturated, the actual chemical composure of the fat molecule is critical in understanding how they impact our health. As an example coconut oil, which is often lambasted because it is a saturated fat - is actually extremely healthy and provides nutrients rarely found in any other food. According to Dr. Bruce Fife, author of Eat Fat Look Thin, coconut is world’s only natural, low-calorie fat-a fat that not only has fewer calories than any other fat, and is proven successful in helping those suffering from obesity, diabetes, hypoglycemia, heart and circulatory problems, yeast infections, chronic fatigue, and many other conditions.
We all fear the “C” word - cancer. It is the #2 killer out there. But again so much of it is preventable by prioritizing your lifestyle habits. In 2010 according to cancer.org - 569,490 people in the U.S. died of cancer.
#1 - Lung; #2 - ColoRectal: #3 - Breast #4 Pancreatic #5 - Prostate. #6) skin
It has been proven in numerous studies that all of these have a major component of lifestyle factors. According to Dr. Carolyn Dean - Naturopathic & Medical doctor - the best cure for cancer is prevention. It all comes down to choosing the right foods and getting physical activity. Just get the scientific facts on choosing the right foods.
Given that skin cancer is one of our biggest cancer killers, we clearly know prevention is the very best here. According to Dr. Ben Barankin - medical & cosmetic dermatologist “Sunscreen is the #1 thing you can do for your skin in terms of preventing skin cancer and anti-aging. Know how to read the label on the sunscreen. There are 4 ingredients that must be there in order to get UVA & UVB protection. Broad Spectrum is a marketers label on sunscreen - not a dermatologist’s!) “. Dr. Barankin will also be sharing with us advancements in all the latest cosmetic procedures, and how we assure we are choosing the right doctor for the job.
Eat Exercise Live over the next months is dedicated to your health. Tune in to hear these specialists :
Dr. Ben Barankin
Dr. Carolyn dean
Dr. Bruce Fife
Dr. Steve Blair
- and get the true scientific facts. There is NO sacrifice to being fit - yes hard work but not sacrifice. the rewards of personal fulfillment are euphoric. If you haven’t felt this exhilaration yet of having such harmony, energy & self pride - time for a paradigm shift. The rewards of a fit lifestyle are much greater - and much more long term.

May you get at least 60 minutes of exercise today!

The Delectable Lifestyle - Brooke Parkhurst of Just Married & Cooking

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Please join us with Brooke Parkhurst & James Briscione authors of the soon to be released Just Married & Cooking. I always say, fitness & nutrition...the greatest love affair of all times......and the matchmaker? Good, clean lifestyle habits. Don't let your hectic life or bickering with your spouse over duties take command. Figuring out our own routine is hard enough.......and then to blend it with a spouse's!.....Now that is a challenge. My other lifestyle mantra: There is NO BETTER WAY to show love for another than by caring for their health. We need to be partners in life, have fun & weave our raison d'etre around a health centric purpose. When life took the shape of a new apartment, an elopement, and a newborn baby, newlyweds Brooke Parkhurst and James Briscione made a promise to each other that they would always share the kitchen duties, and never let life get boring. Adaptations are a necessity of our hectic lives. Embrace & Make it fun!

Preventing Pain - Dr. Angela Mailis Gagnon

Thu, 6 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Chronic pain has become a disease of often debilitating proportions. Please join us with Dr. Angela Mailis Gagnon exclusively devoted to chronic pain diagnosis, management, education and research. Chronic pain can lead to loss of mobility, depression, sleep disturbances, anxiety & a vicious cycle of medications. Over the past 28 years of Dr. Mailis Gagnon's career she has seen approximately 20,000 patients suffering from numerous chronic pain conditions, such as neuropathic pain disorders - post-stroke pain syndromes; pain after spinal cord traumas, multiple sclerosis, diabetic & hereditary neuropathies, neuropathies due to chemotherapy for cancer or other conditions & alcohol abuse. Other pain disorders include Musculoskeletal Pain Disorders such as Myofascial pain & osteoarthritis & Stress and Tension Related Syndromes We will also discuss tension headaches & other functional pain disorders. Dr. Mailis will share many ways of dealing with pain - medication is not the only option!

Vaccinate Yourself Against Chronic Illness Adrian Hutber Exercise is Medicine

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Here's to a healthy 2011! Please Join us with Adrian Hutber, Vice President for the Exercise is Medicine Program from the American College of Sports Medicine. The American College of Sports Medicine promotes and integrates scientific research, education, and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health, and quality of life. Research proves that exercise has a role in the treatment and prevention of more than 40 chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease, obesity and hypertension. We know factually of the infinite benefits of exercise. There is no better Rx for a healthy life - a Rx that contributes to every aspect of your health: staving off disease,self esteem, mental health, stress reduction, anti aging, FUN - what more could you possibly dream of from one prescription! Exercise is the best gift you can give yourself. Paradigm shift: no excuses. This is the Rx for life! The best wealth is health!

All I want for Christmas Is You - Dr. Hal Urschel

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Please join us for our 3rd spectacular show with Dr. Hal Urschel - addiction recovery psychiatrist and author of "Healing the Addicted Brain". Doctor Urschel has been on the show helping us understand that addictions MUST be treated at the physiological roots, along with a methodical comprehensive approach - to assure success and longevity of recovery. Addiction recovery - whether it be nicotine, street or prescription drugs, alcohol - all are very treatable. When addiction recovery attempts fail - it is because a path was not set out for a full comprehensive approach. Dr. Urschel would like to share with us new medications available to assist in the full recovery of those addicted. There is not better way to show love than to contribute to someone's health. The holiday season is so festive for many of us & a real potential for disaster for addicts. The role of loved ones over the holiday season is critical to the success & health of the recovering addict. Let's learn how we can help.

Vitamin D with Dr. Reinhold Vieth

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Please join me with Dr. Reinhold Vieth, world authority on Vitamin D. The new guidelines for Vitamin D recommended intake are just released. Let's learn the truth from the expert on Vitamin D. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is also produced by our bodies when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D. Vitamin D obtained from sun exposure, food, and supplements is biologically unavailable and must undergo two transformations in the body for activation. The first occurs in the liver and the second occurs primarily in the kidney. Vitamin D is essential for Calcium absorption, and is key to our bone health. It is also critical for neuromuscular, immune function & thought to be essential for the prevention of many types of cancers. There is much controversy on how much vitamin D, sun exposure & supplementation. Let's get the truth!

Energy Metabolism - Support your Physical Activity Fabio Comano American Council on Exercise

Thu, 2 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

As promised....the return of Fabio Comana - Exercise Physiologist with the American Council on Exercise. We had a great program with Fabio on October 21 talking about getting started on an exercise program & important components. We did some great myth busting. We had soooo......much awesome information, we are now going to discuss fueling our bodies properly with the right nutrition. There are so many myths out there on exercise nutrition. Get the correct information so you are not sabotaging any of your fitness endeavors & you are supplying your body with the nutrients it needs. NO FAD DIETS! We need to build & feed our muscle mass & we need to fuel our bodies properly to build our cardio endurance. We want our body to break down fat for fuel, not our muscle mass! So much of our success in these endeavors is hugely dependent on feeding ourselves properly. Fabio will eliminate the myths & give you the straight facts.

The Skinny on Fat

Wed, 1 Dec 2010 16:11:18 -0500

The Skinny on Fat.

You do NOT have to be fat to be fat - as far as your body is concerned.
Unfortunately, we have been programmed to think our body weight - on the scale - is the penultimate benchmark for assessing fitness - WRONG!

Yes - the number on the scale definitely gives us a guide - an insight as to have we gained our lost weight and yes it is important that we keep track. However, we must ask ourselves - what is that weight made of?

For that matter - BMI - Body mass index is another number often referred to in order to assess fitness. Again, this is misleading because BMI is based on weight.

BMI = weight(kg)/height(m)2
BMI should fall in the range of 18.9 - 24.5. Often, this is very misleading. The ultimate goal of being fit - besides of course wanting to look good in your skinny jeans - is to be healthy. This is where the using weight as a health assessor can fall short.
At the core of every disease is what health professionals call metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a conglomerate of health markers including blood pressure, HDL & LDL cholesterol, triglycerides & fating blood glucose. All of these are markers for the potential to develop heart disease or diabetes. Having unacceptable levels of any of these markers really affects every organ system of the body.
So what is “skinny fat syndrome’? Think of a 5”10 -120 pound fashion model vs. one of those toned fitness models - who could be a little bit shorter and weigh a bit more. Clearly - by just looking at the BMI equation the taller skinnier one will have a lower BMI - but that does NOT mean she is less likely to have any potential for metabolic syndrome.
Yes - I know - I very clearly push resistance training - lifting weights - and I mean a real load - not just flapping your wings so you don’t sweat and mess up your hair. And again I reiterate here - women - you will NOT bulk up - we don’t have the same testosterone levels as men. What matters for your metabolism & prevention of skinny fat syndrome is your body fat percentage. I don’t care what size jeans you wear - have a professional calculate your body fat percentage. Just because you wear a size 4 jeans does not mean you have low body fat. What matters is your ratio between fat mass and muscle mass. Fat has insidious ways of lurking within the body. A great exercise program can fix that! The best way to build muscle mass is through a clean eating diet & a complete exercise program.
That is why I am here for you. Don’t make the mistake of thinking because you only eat organic fruits and vegetables you are eating a “clean diet”. Don’t think because you run three times per week and wear a size 2 jeans you have low body fat. Ratio honey....its all about the ratio!

I will be having exercise physiologist Fabio Comana from the American Council on Exercise. This is one of the many topics we will be discussing along with boosting the metabolism, smoking cessation without weight gain - and the role of both nutrition & exercise for fat loss. If you miss it live, you can replay it any time by going to that link.
My wish for you today & every day........
May you get at least 60 minutes of exercise today!!!!
Pass this article on to those you love! There is NO BETTER WAY TO SHOW LOVE THAN TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR HEALTH!

Naturopathy & Allopathic Medicine - Dr. Carolyn Dean

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Please join us with the woman who truly gets the Yin Yang of medicine and naturopathy - Dr. Carolyn Dean - Medical Doctor & Naturopathic Doctor. Yes - thanks to modern medicine & its miracles. We still have a vast area, that unfortunately medicine does not encompass - we must be wise & welcoming to the ways of naturopathy. Naturopathy is an alternative medical system that focuses on natural remedies and the body's vital ability to heal and maintain itself. Naturopathic philosophy favors a holistic approach- which by definition makes us take much more of a proactive approach to our health care - and encourages us to take responsibility for our lifestyle choices. Naturopathy seeks the cause of disease by understanding the body, mind, and spirit by supporting the body's own healing abilities, and empowering people to make lifestyle changes. While naturopathic doctors treat both short bouts of illness and chronic conditions, emphasis is on preventing disease and educating patients.
Dr. Carolyn Dean, both a Naturopathic Doctor & a Medical Doctor will be sharing her very unique perspective on healthcare on Fitfan4fun….Lifestyle Fitness with Shira Litwack on VoiceAmerica Thursday, November 18 2010.
Dr. Dean has been in the forefront of the natural medicine revolution for over 30 yrs. She has authored/coauthored over 20 health books. Every show is about living a healthy, proactive lifestyle. Dr. Dean is a fierce advocate for teaching people to take charge of their health.
Allopathic medicine is the medical practice which treats disease by the use of remedies which produce effects different from those produced by the disease under treatment. This is usually done with medication or surgery. MDs practice allopathic medicine. Naturopathic medicine focuses on natural remedies and the body’s vital ability to heal and maintain itself. Naturopathic philosophy favors a holistic approach and minimal use of surgery & medication. And – naturopathy should not be about prescribing supplements. It is an approach of living a healthy lifestyle & listening to your body and what it is telling you. Dr. Dean will help us understand the role of both in our lives.
A patient’s view of the role of a doctor is to help them stay well – reassure us that we are healthy & well & we are going to stay healthy. A doctor’s view is that they are trained to diagnose disease, treat disease – usually with medication and is a very hospital based practice. And yes, this is frustrating to many doctors that the system has to be this way. Every fantastic doctor on my show has told us that many of their patients would not be patients if they had chosen to live a more proactive, health centric lifestyle. As Dr. Dean appropriately says – preventative allopathic medicine is often about going for the mammogram and CT scan. We have to train people and give them the tools to live a healthy lifestyle. We need to take much more responsibility for prevention of disease.
As this is also our Thanksgiving show, Dr. Dean & I will be discussing creating healthy Thanksgiving traditions. The true meaning of Thanksgiving is sharing special times with our families and loved ones. As I always say, there is no better way to show love for another than to care for their health. Show love on Thanksgiving by creating a healthy Thanksgiving dinner. Dr. Dean and I will be sharing healthy Thanksgiving recipes, that will surely earn their place in the family cookbook.
To learn more about Dr. Dean and her fabulous contributions to our health, please visit www.drcarolyndean.com.

Prenatal Health & Fitness - Lisa Holland Prenatal Fitness expert

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Please join me with Lisa Holland as we discuss fitness for the expectant mom. Too many times, moms forget about their own health - too busy looking after everybody else. The Mom is the epicenter of the family. Without you, a family cannot function. Looking after yourself is looking after your family! Yoga means union. Be it body and mind, you with your divine self or one with nature it is all the same. Being Fit for birth means being able to give birth comfortably, and before that get pregnant by natural means. It is better if mental mood is positive, the physical body is not tight, the hormones are in check and the breath is full and under control. All of these things come naturally with a regular yoga practice. Being Fit for birth means you will likely be in mental, emotional and physical shape for pregnancy demands and therefore should have more of a chance of a less medical birth, fast recovery and successful post partum experience.

Its Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature

Sun, 31 Oct 2010 21:18:10 -0400

We live in a world where so many think we can “beat the system”. We look for quick fixes, instant gratification - there must be a short cut - because I want it - it is possible. Ya know that obnoxious sense of entitlement?

I am a huge believer in setting goals. Goals give us something of value for us to work toward - a raison d’etre. If we work hard, we will be rewarded for our efforts. I think many people now set themselves up for failure because they expect instant, quick fixes, and get frustrated when they don’t work.

OK, in some circumstances, maybe this attitude will work. However, there are many serious situations in life where short cuts do not work. The best example of this - is our bodies - our physiology.

This God complex thing will only bite you. Self Sabotage. You cannot, I don’t care how smart you are - you cannot outsmart your physiology. Yes, there are some things greater than you. Your body’s operating system - is mightier than you.
In my fitness business, I refuse to just give someone a “diet and an exercise prescription.” This is very short lived. Rather, I help people adopt new, healthy lifestyle habits that will take people over the long run for a much happier, healthier life - and most of all will help them work with their body - not always trying to fight it. Fight it - the guaranteed outcome is exasperation, frustration & inevitably quitting. We learn ways to work with our metabolism, understand our body’s needs, and stop the arm wrestling. Your body will win.

I realized a strong correlation here with addictions - follow me here. I have had the spectacular addiction recovery psychiatrist Dr. Hal Urschel on my VoiceAmerica show twice now - September 2 & October 28. Go to the show page and listen up.
http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1752

Dr. Urschel is very clear that physiological addictions (smoking, alcohol, drugs) are very treatable - however they must be treated as physiological addictions. We can’t beat the system by trying to minimize them by treating them as anything less than a physiological illness. Dr. Urschel makes a profound point when he compares helping people overcome drug or alcohol addictions to diabetes - we accept diabetes as an illness of the pancreas and we must treat it with medication, strict diet & exercise. Nobody denies it is a physiological illness - get medical treatment.

As my regular readers and listeners to my show know, I do not promote the use of medication haphazardly or flippantly. I support living a clean, healthy lifestyle to avoid medication and stave off chronic illnesses. Once again, I quote the Center for Disease Control (CDC) which emphatically states 75% of chronic illness have a major lifestyle contributor. Let’s remember, our two biggest killers out there are heart disease and cancer - the biggest culprits for these killers are cigarettes, drugs & alcohol. Most unfortunately, poor lifestyle choices can lead to diabetes (and many other chronic illnesses) & addictions. Yes, there is no question there is a genetic factor. We know undisputedly, listen to Dr. David Jenkins (mastermind of the Glycemic Index) show on October 14, much of the diabetes now is a lifestyle epidemic. When this happens, thank God we do have modern medicine that can step in and treat. Yes, what a perfect world it would be if nobody smoked, consumed too much alcohol, used drugs, over ate, made horrible food choices & everybody exercised. But, as we all know most unfortunately it is not a perfect world. Therefore, we do have numerous health epidemics machine gunning us down. So yes at this point, we do need medical intervention, for full treatment & control. Clearly this does not replace adopting healthier lifestyle habits, but thank God we can recover from these life threatening predicaments.
BTW - Dr. Urschel will be back on the show December 23 - helping us make it through the holidays - talking about alcohol and drug use around the holidays
and how to deal with a friend or family member whose problem manifests
itself during family gatherings or after and how you handle a crisis around
substances during that time.
There is absolutely no better way to show love than to contribute to somebody’s health.
Please share the link:
http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1752 to listen to all the very best medical & research experts - who all want to make you healthier and live a better quality life. To see a list of upcoming shows:
http://www.fitfan4fun.com/FitFan4Fun/Fitfan4fun....Lifestyle_Fitness_with_Shira_on_VoiceAmerica.html

May you get at least 60 minutes of exercise today!

Stop Smoking with Addiction Recovery Psychiatrist Dr. Hal Urschel

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Back by very popular demand, Dr. Hal Urschel, THE addiction recovery psychiatrist. If you missed our show with Dr. Urschel on September 2, Don't! Be sure to go to the show page and listen up! We know the hundreds of ways smoking destroys our health. Every year in the U.S. over 392,000 people die from tobacco-caused disease, making it the leading cause of preventable death. Smokers kill another 50,000 people from exposure to their secondhand smoke. Smoking destroys every part of the body. Tragically, each day thousands of kids still pick up a cigarette for the first time. The vicious cycle of addiction, illness and senseless death continues. We will learn with Doctor Urschel various ways to stop smoking. We want to stop our kids from starting. There is absolutely no better way to show love than to care for somebody's health. Listen to help anyone you love in your life to stop smoking and pass on to others so they may do the same. The best wealth - is health!

Love is Wanting you to Stop Smoking

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:04:54 -0400

We all know that smoking kills us. It is the deadliest lifestyle habit of all. Yet, there are still millions around the world that light up and self destruct with nicotine.
I remember so clearly when I was a kid there was a poster in my doctor’s office with a shriveled up old woman, fried hair & skin, full of moles & other grotesque skin growths puffing away on her cigarette. The caption was “smoking is very glamorous”. If anyone can find that picture, please send it to me.
I also remember being in my thirties and a number of my female friends & colleagues smoked. I was so jealous (more than envious) of their skinny little bodies. It wasn’t fair (back then I still thought life should be fair - I am much wiser now) - that caffeine & nicotine should be rewarded with a big fat thermogenic action and help addicts be so svelte. Here poor me worked out at the gym, ate healthy food - I really had to work and do it the hard way.
Now we are all in our late forties. I take a look around at these same women. Yes, the majority of them are still puffing & hacking away - however, I am no longer jealous. Their intense myopia using the coffee & cigarettes diet has cost them obviously their health, but also their youth & beauty. Mix all those alcoholic drinks into the equation (I never could handle my alcohol so I don’t drink) the sum is really not pretty. My jealousy has turned to “Thank God”.
Smoking destroys every organ system in the body. It is the number one lifestyle factor that destroys us - and is easily modifiable. I know it is not easy to stop smoking. It is a physiological addiction. I would absolutely HATE to have to stop smoking. The latest statistic I read is smokers chop roughly 12 years off their life - I guess that would have to be an average because I believe that would have to widely vary by individual - and smoking kills 400,000 people per year in the United States. I know I sound like an insensitive B---- by saying this - but the part I resent is how smokers are so arrogant and allowed to hack at non smokers health with their second hand smoke. I also really hate the trashiness in our cities & arks with their cigarette butts thoughtlessly strewn everywhere. An how bout the intelligence of those that smoke at the gas station?
Four years ago I went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota with a friend. No he doesn’t smoke. Have you ever been to Minnesota in February? It redefines cold!! But what BLEW my mind was all those people standing outside the doors of the clinic in -25 wearing their hospital gowns (of course open at the back) holding on to their IV poles puffing away. Is this not ludicrous? I look at going to the Mayo Clinic as begging the Almighty for another chance on life. As Dr. Holly Andersen, America’s #1 cardiologist said on my Voice America internet radio show “when smokers come to me for help - I will say to them - ‘Are you going to partner with me or not - what are you asking me’”.
There are hundreds of reasons to not smoke, you know that. What I want to be able to do is help people, brutally sucked in to this filthy habit, to stop smoking. I know it is not easy. I will have Dr. Hal Urschel, author of the fantastic book “Healing the Addicted Brain “ on my Voice America internet radio show on Thursday, October 28. The best part of internet radio, you don’t have to listen live. You can listen any time after, and keep passing it on to those you love. Dr. Urschel was already on the show on September 2, helping people with addictions to alcohol & drugs to get over their addictions. It was a spectacular show. Go listen and share with all those you love. There is absolutely no better way to show love than to care about their health.
And BTW, ya know a great way to help you get over addictions ........exercise!
May you get at least 60 minutes of exercise today!

Creating Body Art with the Science of Exercise

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:04:32 -0400

I know factually, scientifically & personally that exercise is the very best gift you can give yourself. I also believe there is no better way to show love to another than to care for their health. Getting them dedicated to a fitness program is true love.
There is nothing more heart breaking to me when people malign exercise, or say “I tried it did nothing”. I absolutely guarantee, that is not true - maybe they weren’t yet reaping the visual rewards of exercise, but it does plenty. Exercise is brilliant for both our mental health & our physical well being.
Exercise is a science. There is nothing haphazard about exercise. It takes dedication & constant learning in order to progress. Tell me - anything in your life that means something to you - you had to work for - didn’t you. You work to keep your career, family relations, marriage, raising children....My favorite quote is by Sam Goldwyn of MGM (Metro Goldwyn Mayer) Studio - “The funny thing is the harder I work, the luckier I get”. Anything in life worth having is hard work.
Creating a healthy, beautiful body is no exception to the rule. Most of us fitness fanatics work 6-7 days a week on exercise, and 24/7 on nutrition. Besides the gym or our chosen activities, we actively seek out ways to get more exercise in a day - not ways to save steps or stairs.
The problem is there are many myths about exercise. Let me cover some of them here.
-When you hear government issued physical activity guidelines - there are 2 very distinct sets of guidelines. The first set is to improve general health & hopefully stave off chronic illnesses - that recommendation is 30 minutes 5 times per week. I personally seriously disagree with this suggestion - it is very misguided. People assume they will head toward their fitness goals with this activity level -- just not gonna happen!
The second set of guidelines is for weight loss & weight management. This suggestion is 60-90 minutes of moderate to high intensity workouts 5-6 days per week. Real different than the first. This is a serious commitment. There is nothing casual or flippant about this.
Yes, going for walks & easy to moderate exercise is of value. But, it is not going to help you reach your fitness goals at lightning speed. Because of this, there are many naysayers over the benefits of exercise. Exercise is a science. Yes, any exercise will help us reap a myriad of health benefits. But to sculpt your body, and really lose excess body fat at a substantial rate - learn the science. Not all cardios are created equally. Resistance training is KEY to preserve & build muscle mass.
Most of all, you must first set your goals. As Dr. Pamela Peeke tells us, we must make a plan, or plan to fail. We have to “make” the time for exercise not “take” the time for exercise. Your exercise program has to be planned & mapped out. If you are unsure how to do this - hire a qualified professional. If you don’t want to hire a professional, or feel you can’t afford one - go join a gym. Most decent gyms have introductory orientation sessions to help you get started. Just get going - it is amazing how quickly you will get hooked and start making sense. Most important, be faithful & get the exercise that will help you accomplish your goals.
-As much as we may be exercising - if fat loss is our goal - we must assure we have a negative calorie balance. To briefly summarize for fat loss, it is generally recommended to have about a 2000 calorie deficit weekly. If you follow the guidelines above, you might only be accomplishing a 1000 calorie burn per week. You really might need to jack up the intensity and duration. And obviously, be careful about your caloric intake. Simple math: You must burn more calories than you consume to accomplish fat loss.
And I have to get this point in here - the two biggest killers are heart disease & cancer. Both have a 75% lifestyle factor - the lack of physical activity is the culprit.

Get some brilliant tips on creating an effective exercise program that will help you accomplish your fitness goals. Learn the real scientific fact, from an exercise physiologist. No fads, trends, learn the facts.

May you get at least 60 minutes of exercise today!

Dr. David Jenkins - Father of the Glycemic Index

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Dr. David Jenkins is THE Man to listen to. We all know the appalling stats on diabetes & cholesterol - and the devastating part is that so much is unnecessary. Controlling our insulin activity is the key to our health. He has served on committees in Canada and the United States that have formulated nutritional guidelines for the treatment of diabetes and recommendations for fibre and macronutrient intake for the general population under the new joint United States-Canada DRI system (RDAs). His research area is the use of diet in the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia and diabetes. His team was the first to define and explore the concept of the glycemic index of foods. His studies on combining cholesterol lowering food components have been recognized as creating an effective dietary alternative to drug therapy (statins) for many people and was the only dietary approach referenced in the 2004 Guidelines Update to the National Cholesterol Education Program. Please share!

Maximizing the Results from Exercise - Fabio Comana American Council on Exercise

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

We all know we should exercise for a number of reasons. Often people complain they are not getting the results they want with their exercise program. Our guest is Fabio Comana, M.A., M.S., exercise physiologist with The American Council on Exercise. Together with Fabio we will discuss a number of ways we can be maximizing the results of our workouts through nutrition and choosing the right exercise. Yes, any & all exercise will contribute to your mental & physical well being - however, for weight loss & weight management understanding the science of exercise - from a pro - will enable you to really reap the rewards of exercise. Not all cardios will yield the same results, effective resistance training is an art. Stretching, core training.....let us show you how to maximize your benefits, and really enjoy what you are doing so you integrate it into your lifestyle. Choosing the right exercise for your likes, goals & lifestyle is key to the success of your program.

Master your Master Hormone - Insulin

Sat, 9 Oct 2010 16:31:35 -0400

Insulin is truly the master of our metabolism - this master hormone is produced by the pancreas and used by the liver, muscle cells, and fat tissue to absorb glucose from the blood (from the food consumed) and is stored in the muscle & liver cells as glycogen. Therefore, insulin controls the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood by taking it up into the cells. Insulin our of control reeks havoc on every cell and every organ system in the body. Now you know why it has earned the name “the master hormone”.
Of course at the top of everyone's list of concerns is weight management. When we eat carbohydrates (sugar) our bodies release insulin in order to take that sugar out of the blood and into the cells.
When there is no insulin in the blood - body uses fat as an energy source.
Most of us want to burn body fat. Therefore, don’t have insulin surging through our blood. Therefore, ditch the empty sugar, keep it complex - carbs that is.
Type I diabetes = the pancreas is unable to produce insulin
Type II diabetes = (aka insulin resistant) body does not respond effectively to insulin
This use to be called “adult onset” diabetes, however, with the obesity epidemic & horrible eating habits & yes “move” has become a four letter word- many kids are now dealing with diabetes.
Insulin allowed to flow wildly destroys the heart, kidneys, liver, cognitive ability, sexual performance, nervous system, high blood pressure, cholesterol, stroke, and can lead to certain cancers. Insulin resistance can reduce our bodies ability to absorb magnesium - a critical mineral - one of its many responsibilities is the relaxation phase of the heartbeat. Insulin resistance can also lead to osteoporosis & alzheimer’s. Insulin controls all of our other vital hormones - ghrelin, leptin, thyroid, growth hormone, cortisol....you get the message. Never under estimate the power of Growth Hormone - this one is truly a BFF. It is secreted in your sleep - however, it is very picky about then it comes out to play. It is very anti social with insulin, and ghrelin must be there. These hormones are CRITICAL to our metabolic harmony. Therefore it is the master control behind much of our metabolic function.
Ok - so hopefully we get it and we have to control our insulin levels.
Enter the Glycemic Index: We all owe tremendous thanks to Dr. David Jenkins, from right here in our beautiful Toronto. Not all carbs affect blood sugar levels. The genius of Dr. Jenkins - he came up with a ranking of how different carbohydrates manipulate the release of insulin into our bodies.
Low GI = below 55
Medium GI = 55-69
High GI - Above 70
Clearly, we want to aim for eating lower GI foods. FYI= white bread = 100GI. We want to eat complex carbs, high fiber foods, rather than processed sugar crap. We also want to be responsible as to what time of day we eat certain foods. The Glycemic Index is the MOST logical way to choose the foods we eat. The GI not only helps us manage our weight, but helps protect us against disease of every system in the body. If you would like the opportunity to learn from THE MAN, Dr. David Jenkins, he will be on
Fitfan4Fun.....Lifestyle Fitness with Shira Litwack on the VoiceAmerica network Thursday October 14, 2010, 1:00 p.m. eastern. Please join me as we learn from the master of the master hormone, Dr. David Jenkins of St. Michael’s hospital right here in out beautiful Toronto.
The beauty of internet radio, you can hear the show any time after the live airplay. While you are on the showpage, listen to any of the previous great shows. Most of all, please share them with those you love. There is absolutely NO BETTER WAY to show true love than to care about somebody’s health.

Mental Fitness - Ingrid Cummings

Thu, 7 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The Vigorous Mind advocates for “cross-training your brain” by intentionally diversifying the portfolio of your activities. Author Ingrid Cummings has an all-new approach to time management, The Vigorous Mind puts a contemporary spin on what it meant to be “well rounded,” a notion that sounds old fashioned today. The book taps into one of today’s hottest trends: The application of neuroscience to everyday brain health. Scientists are proving that strategically pursuing a broad spectrum of sometimes-counterintuitive activities can actually strengthen your brain and make you better at everything you do. For instance, you can become a better doctor by writing poetry; a better plumber by taking up chess. The secret is consistent, incremental “baby steps,” The intention is for the reader to make accelerative progress toward their cross-training goals by committing just 20 minutes of concentrated attention per day (what the author calls “Triumph in Twenty”) to a topic of their choice.

How Fitness Has Changed Their Lives

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Any fitness naysayers & procrastinators in you life? Make sure you share this program with them. It is NEVER too late for fitness. NEVER! Authors of the just released book "Power Source for Women" Susan Sommers & Theresa Dugwell will be sharing with us their own success stories as well as the joy & motivation of their new book. Power Source for Women: • Helps women get in touch with their current fitness level — mental, emotional, and physical • Encourages them to achieve and sustain optimum health as they age • Promotes self-acceptance, self-awareness, self-esteem, fitness, and a healthy body as part of a “virtuous circle” • Inspires with success stories, motivation, and strategies • Connects women to one another through the online community powersourceforwomen.com We will also be joined by Eftihia Ellinas , 1st place figure competitor IDFA Toronto Classic - with her own motivational journey. Not just for ladies, Fitness is possible no matter what your current level or age.

Food, Mood, Sleep & Exercise - Metabolic Partners

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Please Join us with the fun & energetic Marie-Josee Salvas Shaar as we discuss the interdependence of sleep, nutrition, emotions & exercise and how they ultimately rule our metabolism. We are NOT helpless victims of "bad genetics" - we just need to learn how to synchronize & harmonize our bodies. The reward is energy, productivity, looking great & keeping young. Our bodies secrete a number of hormones that regulate our metabolism and keep us purring. However, there are many mistakes we make in our busy lives that upset our "internal ecosystem". Let's learn with Marie Josee how we can feel so much stronger & energized by self adjusting all of these variables.

Exercise is Medicine! - Dr. Pamela Peeke

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Join us with Dr. Pamela Peeke! Obesity rates have exponentially grown over the past decades. Diabetes & heart disease have dramatically increased. Over 7 % of the U.S. population suffers from diabetes, and 6.2 million people who have the disease don’t realize that they have it. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) health care providers are finding more and more children with type 2 diabetes, a disease usually diagnosed in adults over age 40 - no longer referred to as "adult onset diabetes." Our top 3 killers are heart disease, cancer & alcoholism. Exercise has been proven to be a serious preventative aid in all 3 of our top killers. It is extremely important in recovery from all 3 as well. My wish - more health care professionals would really write out prescriptions for exercise. We are all busy. There are hundreds of creative ways we can integrate exercise into our busy lifestyles. Exercise is NOT a frivolity - it is as crucial to our being as eating and breathing.

Creating a Healthier Generation - Dr. Glenn Berall

Thu, 9 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Episode Description: We all know we have an obese society and a serious epidemic within our youth. Our children’s generation is the first generation since the civil war with a shorter life expectancy than the one before - thanks to childhood obesity and its complications & implications. Let’s create healthy traditions for our kids & stop the travesty. With the help of Dr. Glenn Berall, Chief of Pediatrics North York General Hospital, Toronto, Canada, we are going to delve into the real causes of the epidemic and what we are going to do to repair this desperate situation. We currently have an obesogenic society - an environment that promotes gaining weight and one that is not conducive to fitness & losing weight. Deconditioned parents do not set a good example for our youth. Our obesity epidemic has doubled over the last two decades, our children are leading sedentary lives - causing soaring medical dilemmas. Let's figure out what we have to do to stop this spiralling epidemic.

Addiction Recovery - Dr. Hal Urschel

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

On today's show we welcome a very special guest,Dr. Hal Urschel. Addictions are physiologically based - very real! Recent scientific research has discovered new avenues of treatment by showing conclusively that addiction is a chronic physical disease that attacks the brain, damaging key parts of the limbic system and cerebral cortex. The limbic system is responsible for controlling various functions of the body, including many of our emotions and motivations, particularly those that are related to survival. The limbic system is also involved in feelings of pleasure and freedom from hunger or pain. The cerebral cortex, often called the gray matter, is involved in critical thinking and reasoning. The cerebral cortex limits our primitive drives, making us “civilized” and adapted to social success. When a craving to drink or use is greater than the thought or decision for self-control there is conflict. The brain wants to resolve the conflict, but prior substance abuse has damaged its ability to do so and the brain’s survival center wins out.

Men’s Sexual health - Dr. Greg Trottier Uro-Oncology

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Prevention is always the very best medicine. Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in American men and the second leading cause of deaths from cancer, after lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society's most recent estimates, 192,280 new cases of prostate cancer would be diagnosed in 2009 and 27,360 would die from the disease. Although inherited factors are important in some prostate cancers - the overwhelming majority are related to lifestyle factors - diet is key. This belief is supported when researchers look at the variation in incidence from country to country. The good news here is....we are not helpless, there is much we can do to lower our risk of prostate cancer. The concept of nutraceuticals is food that provides health and medical benefits including the prevention and treatment of disease. Dr. Trottier will share with us the current research on prevention of prostate cancer with nutraceuticals.

The Unnecessary Evil - Dr. Holly Andersen America’s #1 Cardiologist!

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

A message from Doctor Andersen: "Heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in this country - it kills more every year than all cancers combined. It is an exciting time to be a cardiologist -- our understanding of this disease has never been greater. We have exceptional therapies to treat this disease today, but our greater challenge is to prevent it." Heart disease is caused by cholesterol and plaque buildup in the inside walls of the coronary arteries. More than 200 risk factors have been associated with CHD. There are risk factors that are out of our control: sex, age, race, heredity. However, there are risk factors that we can influence: Blood Pressure • Cholesterol • Glucose Control • Nutrition • Physical Activity • Psychosocial Factors (depression, social isolation, anger, anxiety) • Smoking Dr. Andersen will prove to us, we are not helpless. Much of the heart disease out there is preventable. It should not be the killer it is.

Exercise for your Brain - Professor Dan Landers

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Exercise is just as important for our minds as for our bodies. Those of us who exercise regularly know the energy and endorphins we are charged with from regular, hard workouts. Professor Daniel Landers, Arizona State U, department of kinesiology will share with us his leading edge scientific research on the effects of exercise on selected mental health variables. Professor Landers will share with us how exercise influences relaxation/mood alteration, including anxiety and depression; the ability to cope with psychosocial stressors, quality and quantity of sleep, and cognitive functioning. What this all means for us? We all keep hearing how exercise is critical against many diseases, weight management & looking great. Let's appreciate what exercise does for us psychologically & intellectually. Exercise really empowers us to soar physically, psychologically, emotionally & mentally. Professor Landers, will bring this all together for us! Not to be missed!

I wish I were Born at 40

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 18:52:46 -0400

I Wish I Were Born at 40
Being a well seasoned fitness specialist, I have had the opportunity to work with many women. I try desperately to impart the wisdom I have gained at my age on my younger clients and friends....Don’t wait until you are 40 to start investing in yourself!
Many of us feel compelled to make the exact same mistakes.Unfortunately, our hardest lessons are learned at the school of hard knocks. Once we get married, we forget about ourselves. I think it is a dose of guilt that gets tacked on to maternal instincts. I do not believe that guilt is a constructive emotion. Caring and nurturing do not have to be decorated by guilt.
We get married, we think about our husbands - being a great wife, building our careers - you know - we have to be superwomen. And when we have kids..............our lives truly do not belong to us any more. Our lives have become a balancing act between taking care of husband, children, house, career & chief organizer for the immediate world. Are we in a popularity contest? We feel miserable when any of them do not get our full 100% attention.
So clearly, there are only 24 hours in a day. Something has to suffer. We become multitaskers extraordinaire. Our adaptation is we grow more arms than an octopus. But as women, we often take the losses ourselves. We have to be superwoman, supermom - so we have to take the hit. Life flies by as we allocate every moment of every day caring for the ones we love. It is not uncommon for women at this stage of life to gain weight or just stop looking after themselves. If you are afflicted by superwomanitis.......please listen.
Here is what many of us discover at 40. Every day of our lives we let go, piece by piece, a morsel of our youth. However, we gain experience, wisdom, and confidence - and with those a much better ability to think. I think its a great trade off.
To many of us, something magical happens around the time we turn 40. The popularity contest is over. Its like we finally opened our eyes and said I just don’t give a rats fanny what other people think. My opinion is what matters. I am a big girl now, I will make my own decisions.
We don’t care any less than we did before. Its just our care is more focused. We now make decisions for the right reasons - not to please anyone else, just for good sound reasons. The best part is we wake up and realize - I MATTER!
Let’s face it. We are the heartbeat of our families. They really are helpless without us. The best expression I ever heard for us is:
“Nobody has any clue what I do until I don’t do it!”
Best job description I ever read.
I love to study the psychology of Abraham Maslow. Maslow developed his hierarchy of needs - often shown as a pyramid. The needs are physiological, safety

love and belonging, esteem & self actualization.
Here is what I believe happens to us as women. So much of our upbringing is focused on looking after others. This is a great thing - given that we want to raise our daughters to be great moms. We look after our dolls, pets, we play house, we love to bake cookies (comfort foods 101), we become babysitters, look after siblings......you get the idea. We get praised and recognized for our ability to nurture others - great. And yes, I believe this is so much healthier than the whacko moms obsessed with getting their three year old to be beauty queens - come on Mom quit trying to live your wanna be life through your daughters!
However, I think sometimes we get so caught up in looking for safety, love, belonging & esteem that just maybe we try soooo....hard, maybe we think we are not worthy of those needs...so we keep trying to earn them......????
Here is a tip ladies. We are worthy of them. Yes, lets keep being those wonderful, capable multi taskers and achievers, but please look after yourself. You are worthy of the time & investment to care for your health. Don’t wait until you are 40. Make sure in each and every day, when your are divvying up those precious moments of each and every day, you get your fair share. Use it for your health .....And on that note...ya know what to do with your time.......Go work out!
May you get at least 60 minutes of exercise today!

Understanding our Eating Behaviors - Professor Jane Ogden

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Listening to Professor Jane Ogden is captivating, brilliantly informative & very thought provoking. Critical to weight management & eating a healthy diet is understanding what food means to us. A real problem, especially with food, is people do what they want vs. what they should. That is why we need to adjust our outlook, which is why we need to understand what food is doing to us. Hunger and taste often have little to do with why we eat-understand why we eat: The pathway between anorexia and obesity- Using food to make statements about ourselves. Why dieting just doesn't work - denial and deprivation - recipe for disaster Two versions of the obese person Why weight loss surgery is not always the answer Learn to be introspective and understand our own reasons for eating and our food choices What can we do for our kids to give them a healthier relationship with food? Jane's insight will enlighten your understanding of yourself.

Fall in love with your New BFF- with Elaine O'Brien

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:12:09 -0400

Welcome to FitFan4Fun...Lifestyle Fitness with Shira Litwack I promise you that together we will find you fitness solutions...whatever level you are at. We will find our challenges and learn how to move on the right way. No more fad diets, no more yo yo dieting. The one and only proven, long term way to your desired fitness level is by embracing lifestyle fitness. No matter how busy you are, or let down you might feel from previous attempts - tune in and we will weave the right approach into your hectic life! We are going to ditch the guilt, and turn your "I should"s into "I am doing...this is FABULOUS!" The Center for Disease Control says 75% of chronic illnesses have a major lifestyle factor. So, what helps us look great, holds the key to the fountain of youth, energizes our bodies and minds, releases stress and unleashes the inner you? Lifestyle fitness! I have some really great guests lined up for you. Live, Laugh and Learn with us! Let me be your fitness cheerleader!