I came across something today that I wanted to share. We hear over and over in the news about the obesity in America today, but this website and the visualization of the growing obesity in our nation made the reality so much more clear to me.
Visit this website and watch as the percentage of obese Americans grows each year from 1985 to 2007. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/maps/
While being lean and healthy was once the norm, I'm afraid that the opposite will soon be true.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Pumping Iron
A couple of week's ago I was visiting family. The day included a meal and after a few comments were made about my sticking more to poultry and seafood I was, yet again, told that I needed to eat red meat for the iron.
If others choose to eat red meat and lots of it, that's fine. I don't try to push that part of my diet on to others. But it can get a little irritating to have others make remarks to me about my own choices, especially when they really have no evidence or research to back up what they are saying.
Most people that are in the older generations, however, have always heard that you need your iron and you get it from your meat. They were raised meat-eaters and aren't quite sure what to think of the more eco-conscious ways of eating that are becoming popular today.
It's important for those of us who are health-conscious to know our facts and be able to back up what we believe. It's comforting to have good reasons for what we do when faced with a house full of family holding their own ham and pie-filled plates wondering at your strange new eating habits.
Iron IS very important for our bodies. We need iron to sustain our energy levels and to keep our blood pressure up to normal levels. (Some, like me, actually tend to have low blood pressure and so it's extra important to make sure our iron levels are desirable.)
According to the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois, good sources of iron include beef, chicken, turkey, seafood, kidney beans, baked beans, spinach, lima beans, apricots, almonds, and even molasses.
Although meat tends to have a larger quantity of iron, these other foods (such as beans) also have amounts that can satisfy your daily iron needs.
The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for iron for non-vegetarian women is 18 mg/day. The RDA for iron for vegetarian women is 33 mg/day. These numbers are for pre-menopausal women. The numbers are higher for vegetarians because those sources of iron that not meat are not as easily absorbed as those that are meat. However, a vegetarian simply must be aware of the foods she is eating and make healthful choices. In other words, a good vegetarian would always be taking her health into account, and not just living on a diet of doughnuts and chips!
There are ways to aid the absorption of these non-meat sources of iron. The McKinley Health Center advises eating those vegetarian sources of iron with a good source of vitamin C, such as an orange, broccoli, or a tomato. Also, you could choose to eat a vegetarian iron source along with a meat source of protein. Or, cook the vegetarian iron sources in a cast iron skillet or other iron pot. These three methods will aid the absorption of iron for those who fear their iron levels may be down, or for those who are vegetarians.
People may still think us health nuts are crazy. BUT truth be told and in my experience, the majority of the people that have something to say are completely unhappy with their bodies and their health. Instead of getting defensive, it may do them well to get them informed.
If others choose to eat red meat and lots of it, that's fine. I don't try to push that part of my diet on to others. But it can get a little irritating to have others make remarks to me about my own choices, especially when they really have no evidence or research to back up what they are saying.
Most people that are in the older generations, however, have always heard that you need your iron and you get it from your meat. They were raised meat-eaters and aren't quite sure what to think of the more eco-conscious ways of eating that are becoming popular today.
It's important for those of us who are health-conscious to know our facts and be able to back up what we believe. It's comforting to have good reasons for what we do when faced with a house full of family holding their own ham and pie-filled plates wondering at your strange new eating habits.
Iron IS very important for our bodies. We need iron to sustain our energy levels and to keep our blood pressure up to normal levels. (Some, like me, actually tend to have low blood pressure and so it's extra important to make sure our iron levels are desirable.)
According to the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois, good sources of iron include beef, chicken, turkey, seafood, kidney beans, baked beans, spinach, lima beans, apricots, almonds, and even molasses.
Although meat tends to have a larger quantity of iron, these other foods (such as beans) also have amounts that can satisfy your daily iron needs.
The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for iron for non-vegetarian women is 18 mg/day. The RDA for iron for vegetarian women is 33 mg/day. These numbers are for pre-menopausal women. The numbers are higher for vegetarians because those sources of iron that not meat are not as easily absorbed as those that are meat. However, a vegetarian simply must be aware of the foods she is eating and make healthful choices. In other words, a good vegetarian would always be taking her health into account, and not just living on a diet of doughnuts and chips!
There are ways to aid the absorption of these non-meat sources of iron. The McKinley Health Center advises eating those vegetarian sources of iron with a good source of vitamin C, such as an orange, broccoli, or a tomato. Also, you could choose to eat a vegetarian iron source along with a meat source of protein. Or, cook the vegetarian iron sources in a cast iron skillet or other iron pot. These three methods will aid the absorption of iron for those who fear their iron levels may be down, or for those who are vegetarians.
People may still think us health nuts are crazy. BUT truth be told and in my experience, the majority of the people that have something to say are completely unhappy with their bodies and their health. Instead of getting defensive, it may do them well to get them informed.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Where In The World Is Amanda?
I've been gone too long from my blog, I know! But there has been quite a lot going on here. Let me briefly fill you in.
I began at Gold's about six months ago and my schedule quickly filled up. As much as I would like to be at the gym all day long helping people with their weight loss (Yeah, maybe "all day long" is an exaggeration. Just like you, I experience burnout now and then too! I've come to know my limits!), I just can't. My children are my priority right now. But some of you know that struggle between the two, I'm sure.
So I have stopped taking new clients. Some new and exciting changes will soon come to fruition. But those details can't be discussed just yet. But the one that can is my Backyard Bootcamp that I am very excited about. Plans are being made for local friends and neighborhood women to come together each Saturday for eight weeks to get ready for bikini weather!
I am chugging away on my school classes as usual. By the way, I should be finishing a book right now while the kids are napping because I have a test on it tomorrow!
On top of the busy schedule and adjusting back and forth from mommy-mode to kick-butt trainer, Emma decided to stop sleeping through the night! Noooooo!
All you moms know how important a good night's sleep is, especially when you must find the energy to entertain the babes for hours on end!
But you know what I've realized through all of this? WE MOMS ARE TOUGH!
My husband whines when he has a toe cramp. But we moms, we just learn to take what comes at us and go with it. We've got children to care for. We can't just stop everything and wait for someone else to handle it all, because if your household is anything like mine, if you want it done (and done right!), you do it yourself!
So maybe we can't get it all done all the time....but we're doing a pretty good job I think! Go moms!!!! We're good.
I began at Gold's about six months ago and my schedule quickly filled up. As much as I would like to be at the gym all day long helping people with their weight loss (Yeah, maybe "all day long" is an exaggeration. Just like you, I experience burnout now and then too! I've come to know my limits!), I just can't. My children are my priority right now. But some of you know that struggle between the two, I'm sure.
So I have stopped taking new clients. Some new and exciting changes will soon come to fruition. But those details can't be discussed just yet. But the one that can is my Backyard Bootcamp that I am very excited about. Plans are being made for local friends and neighborhood women to come together each Saturday for eight weeks to get ready for bikini weather!
I am chugging away on my school classes as usual. By the way, I should be finishing a book right now while the kids are napping because I have a test on it tomorrow!
On top of the busy schedule and adjusting back and forth from mommy-mode to kick-butt trainer, Emma decided to stop sleeping through the night! Noooooo!
All you moms know how important a good night's sleep is, especially when you must find the energy to entertain the babes for hours on end!
But you know what I've realized through all of this? WE MOMS ARE TOUGH!
My husband whines when he has a toe cramp. But we moms, we just learn to take what comes at us and go with it. We've got children to care for. We can't just stop everything and wait for someone else to handle it all, because if your household is anything like mine, if you want it done (and done right!), you do it yourself!
So maybe we can't get it all done all the time....but we're doing a pretty good job I think! Go moms!!!! We're good.
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