Archive for June, 2009

National Health Care Day of Service

Monday, June 29th, 2009

This past Saturday, Balanced Strength, Inc., had the great opportunity to participate in one of the South Los Angeles Community Health & Wellness Fairs. This was part of Barack Obama’s call to action in National Health Care Day of Service.

(If you look closely, you may be able to catch part of my team in the background of the video, showing attendees exercises and giving health & fitness consultations.)

At 8480 Figueroa, with the help of friends and colleagues, Adam Belfer, Sarah Cahill, and Heidi Llovet, we were able to show visitors how to lose weight, measure cardiac risk with waist to hip ratio calculations, prevent diabetes and high blood pressure, strengthen their bodies, and reach other health and fitness goals.

Sarah, Adam, and I get ready to take center stage to lead a workout that you can do anywhere, to prevent back pain.

Sarah, Adam, and I get ready to take center stage to lead a workout that you can do anywhere, to prevent back pain.

Council member of District 8, Bernard Parks attended and spoke to all about the importance of health care reform.

Council member Bernard Parks addresses us at the Community Health & Wellness Fair in South Los Angeles.

Council member Bernard Parks addresses us at the Community Health & Wellness Fair in South Los Angeles.

He advised us to do our own part in reducing health care costs by participating in “pre-healthcare”. In other words, we should all get health screenings such as glucose testing (for diabetes), blood pressure, HIV, etc. By participating in pre-healthcare, we are able to detect health conditions before they worsen. Early detection can save ourselves, the public, and our healthcare system millions of dollars.

We look forward to the next day of service in September, to take a stand on education reform.

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Waist to Hip Ratio: Your tool to figure out your health risk

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Here is a fantastic article, Emily Wynne, a recent Pepperdine University, Kinesiology, grad contributed to our blog…

What is waist to hip ratio?
Waist-hip ratio or Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is the ratio of the circumference of the waist to that of the hips. It is calculated by measuring the smaller circumference of the natural waist, usually just above the belly button, and dividing by the hip circumference at its widest part of the buttocks or hip.
How are the numbers created?
The waist to hip ratio is calculated by measuring the circumference of the waist and dividing it by the circumference of the hips. The resulting value is looked up in a reference table, like the one following, to determine risk.

WHR chart
Why is this measurement important?
The WHR has been used as an indicator or measure of the health of a person, and the risk of developing serious health conditions. Research shows that people with “apple-shaped” bodies (with more weight around the waist) face more health risks than those with “pear-shaped” bodies who carry more weight around the hips.
Optimal WHR for women is 0.7. The optimal ratio for men is 0.9.
High WHR, in individuals 18 years of age and older, are associated with cardiovascular risks, coronary artery disease, and type 2 diabetes. Although it may be difficult to change your genetically predisposed body shape,  you can shrink your waistline through regular exercise and consuming a healthy diet.

For more information on WHR visit the American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org.

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Fat Cats

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

We’ve been reading plenty about the American, now international, obesity epidemic. It causes countless chronic diseases and conditions. Is it caused by overeating or underexercising? The various angles to the topic of obesity are endless. However, today’s discussion is not about the effect on us, humans; it is on the effect it has on our beloved pets.

Image courtesy of http://freakingnews.com. Images have been altered with Photoshop. Pet health was not endangered for the purpose of this photo contest.

Image courtesy of http://freakingnews.com. Images altered using Photoshop.

As reported by Eddie Rucker on ABC13, in West Michigan, obesity in pets leaves them vulnerable to conditions such as diabetes, chronic joint and back issues, heart disease, and trouble breathing, similarly to humans.

Regardless of whether or not you are feeding your furry friend your table scraps, consider the saying, “a calorie is a calorie…” Sparky and Hello Kitty are not immune to overeating. You need to help them control their portion sizes and participate in regular exercise just like their two-legged companions. Depending on your pets’ levels of physical activity, they may not need the recommended meal size on your pet food container. Consult with your veterinarian regarding any diet modifications your pet may need.

Amusingly (or maybe not so amusing to you), I have consulted with a few people who have admitted to adopting canines, so they would have an exercise buddy who’s life (and cleanliness of living quarters) depended on being taken out on regular walks. Rather than get fat with Fluffy, how about adopting one another as accountability partners? Select nutritious, low calorie meals, and exercise together, regularly.

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Workout Anywhere!

Friday, June 12th, 2009

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Some of you may have already experienced my training on the TRX system, or you may have heard me rave about this piece of equipment. In 2005, I attended the trade show at the IDEA conference. This was one of the very few products I was excited about. You can get an amazing, full-body, heart-pounding (sorry if that sounds cliche), functional strength training workout with this one piece of equipment. The great thing is that you can use it ANYWHERE!!! That’s why you can find their information at www.fitnessanywhere.com. Check out the video above, where a man works out on BART (San Francisco Bay Area’s mass transit system).

TRX for the Military

TRX for the Military

These simple straps can travel with you to the office, business trips, vacation–locations are endless. I have used it in my hotel room, using the over-the-door attachment. A regular strength routine is very important for any person who is looking to lose weight, “tone” or “sculpt” their muscles, wants to look and feel sexier, perform better in their sport of choice, prevent or reduce chronic pain, prevent osteoporosis. Using the TRX makes a regular routine simple, in that it may go where you go, without having to lug cumbersome and heavy pieces of equipment around. Click the below link if you are interested in learning more about their products, which include instructional DVDs, and/or want to make a purchase.

TRX Suspension Trainer: Train Like the Pros.

Contact me if you are interested in a TRX workout. You can also find exercises on their website.

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