BODY ALERT!

And here I am having lunch with my colleagues, and we are looking at this magazine and behold on one of the pages is this 14 year old who weighs 40 stones, my oh my! You need to see what she looked like at just 14. But all I could think of was, how did she allow herself get to that stage, but as I think about the whole situation all I can come up with is, it all begins with a wrong diet/practice that becomes a habit and lifestyle, which invariably has a knock on effect on not just outlook but health issues. Yea and speaking of lifestyle, exercise is key to maintaining a healthy life style. Most people exercise for various reasons, to look good, please a partner, fit into that bikini wow and for people like me so we dont feel guilty when we greedily consume all the food lol! I was at a barbecue last weekend, and everyone goes "O Elly you have lost quite some weight, dont go any further", and my response was "I am just starting, but right there in my heart, all I could hear was licence to eat freely and I really ate that evening lol! All these are quite valid reasons but they cant sustain the zeal, however the main reason I feel should be on the grounds of health reasons. Exercise should be part of our routine not optional but mandatory. Some people approach exercise as well as dieting aggressively, but soon loose the zeal and go back to square one. I always say take baby steps and consistent daily steps to achieve the desired result. That is why I have attached this write up on the health benefits of walking/jogging, you can actually walk, just invest in some good running shoes like I just did, and swap them at the end of the day as you walk back from work, or to the shops and give those clutches a break. Dont wait to enroll in a gym, as you might spend the whole year, talking the talk and not doing it rather start something today even in the comfort of your bedroom. My simple routine which I do, is a 20-30minutes jog in the morning, as well as a few minutes of tummy exercises in the evening, and the outcome is amazing, you just feel good within as well as your self confidence too. Dont forget to hydrate, I really love my water and it makes a huge difference. Some friends marvel at how much water I take, as we were out for the weekend, and they noticed I actually got up at night to have some water, but I say its better than all the colourful artificial drinks, advertised on the shelves. Change Your lifestyle today and experience a newness to life! Jogging offers same health benefits as walking Jogging is the next natural step from walking. Jogging is a form of trotting or Running at a slow or leisurely pace with the main intention to increase fitness, endurance, and caloric expenditure. Jogging, like walking, can be done anytime, anywhere, and can be done alone or in a group. Jogging has all the health benefits of walking: It conditions the heart, improves muscle tone and strength, relieves stress, and can help with a variety of health problems including heart disease and arthritis. However, whereas walking is a low-impact activity because one foot is always in contact with the ground, in jogging and in Running, impact is introduced. This is a high-impact exercise that places strain on the body, notably the joints of the knee. But impact can actually be a good thing. Because jogging is a weight-bearing activity, it will enhance bone density, which can reduce the risk of osteoporosis. The big advantage of jogging over walking is that you can cover the same distance in a shorter period of time. The disadvantage is that it can result in more injuries than walking, because the strain placed on both muscles and joints is greater. But with proper shoes and preparation through stretching, you can greatly reduce your risk of injury. Jogging and Running, like walking, involve rhythmic, forward action of the legs that target the large lower muscles of the body including the hip flexors, gluteus maximus, quadriceps, and hamstrings. Assisting those muscles are the gastrocnemius and the anterior tibialis. The less obvious, yet equally important, muscles are your hip abductors and hip adductors, which are responsible for stabilizing the hips and legs in general. The torso muscles are also actively engaged to keep your torso erect as your arms swing naturally with your stride. Because of the level of impact associated with both jogging and Running, proper alignment of the torso is paramount in limiting stress to the joints and low back. Visualize and create a tall vertical position of your torso, keeping your abdominal muscles engaged throughout your jog. Maintain a strong upper postural position by keeping your shoulders down, creating lots of distance between your shoulders and ears to avoid carrying your arms too high. A well-fitted Running shoe is the most basic requirement for jogging. You will need to try on a variety of models to see which style provides the best overall fit. The amount of cushioning you require depends on how hard your foot strikes the ground during your stride. The frame and build of your body will help you determine how much cushioning you need. Most experts agree that a good pair of comfortable sneakers will suffice; however, as we recommended in walking, choosing a well constructed performance Running shoe is a good idea because it is designed specifically for Running and will help you avoid injury. If you take the time to choose proper footwear, your feet will not only perform better, they’ll feel better too! by June Kahn and Lawrence Biscontini.