tag:betterme.ca,2008-10-24://3 2010-06-01T19:06:41Z Movable Type Pro 4.21-en tag:betterme.ca,2010://3.148 2010-06-01T18:48:58Z 2010-06-01T19:06:41Z

Postural wall exercise Hip lifts on the ball Active hip stretch Quadriceps stretch...

Sean Postural wall exercise

Hip lifts on the ball

Active hip stretch

Quadriceps stretch]]> tag:betterme.ca,2010://3.146 2010-05-17T23:12:36Z 2010-05-17T18:52:15Z

Nous avons prévu que le début des ateliers aura lieu mardi le 25 mai. Le moment ne pouvait être mieux choisi. Ce sera une occasion pour nous tous de pratiquer des activités en plein air et de mettre en...

Sean Nous avons prévu que le début des ateliers aura lieu mardi le 25 mai. Le moment ne pouvait être mieux choisi. Ce sera une occasion pour nous tous de pratiquer des activités en plein air et de mettre en oeuvre nos nouvelles activités récréatives (c'est la deuxième règle au cas où l'auriez oublié).
We have established the starting date of the workshops to be Tuesday May 25th. The timing just couldn't be better. We'll all be able to get outdoors and start implementing our new "recreational" activities (that's the 2nd R in case you're forgetting). ]]> Just a recap of the 4 workshops:

Mardi le 25 mai - cette session sera consacrée au repos. Ce serait génial si nous pourrions tous bénéficier d'une petite sieste de 45 minutes mais cela s'avérerait être seulement une solution temporaire. Rappelez vous que nous cherchons des résultats à long terme. Nous examinerons l'effet de la fatigue sur notre corps ainsi que le meilleur moyen de la contrer.
Tuesday May 25th- this session will be devoted to Rest. It would be great if we could all just have a 45 minute nap but that would just be a temporary solution. Remember, we're looking at the long term. We'll examine fatigue and the best ways to resolve it.


Mardi le 1er juin - dans cette session nous apprendrons comment mettre en pratique des exercices importants pour réduire les maux de dos et de cou. Nous mettrons l'accent sur l'importance du mouvement et des activités de loisirs.
Tuesday June 1st- in this session we will learn important exercises to reduce back and neck pain. We'll really be focused on the importance of movement and Recreation.

Les mardis 8 et 15 juin - ces deux sessions seront entièrement consacrées à la l'alimentation naturelle. L'alimentation nous apporte les composantes de base pour notre corps afin qu'il soit capable d'accomplir toutes ses fonctions vitales. L'alimentation peut favoriser ou nuire à notre progrès dans notre recherche du bien-être.
Tuesday June 8th and Tuesday June 15th - two whole sessions will be devoted to Real food. Food provides the building blocks for our body to perform all of its essential functions. Food can make or break our progress in improving our well being.

Eh bien, voilà 4 semaines pour vous permettre de mettre en place d'excellentes habitudes dans votre vie. Je m'attends à vous voir tous dans un avenir proche!
There you have it; 4 weeks to help you establish great new habits. I'm looking forward to seeing you all!

]]> tag:betterme.ca,2010://3.147 2010-05-13T21:06:54Z 2010-05-13T22:03:28Z

The best smoothie yet! Coconut gets a fair share of bad press for being a little on the fattening side, but what many people don't know is that coconut milk contains those healthy fats you read about. It's primary claim...

Sean The best smoothie yet!

Coconut gets a fair share of bad press for being a little on the fattening side, but what many people don't know is that coconut milk contains those healthy fats you read about. It's primary claim to fame however is that it contains something called lauric acid which helps to strengthen your immune system. If that's not enough, it's dairy free for all of those who are lactose intolerant.

First thing; you need a blender and anyone serious about their nutrition absolutely must have one. ]]> Ingredients

1/4 cup of unsweetened coconut milk
1/4 cup of frozen blueberries
1/4 cup of frozen mango
3 medium size frozen strawberries
1/4 cup of water
3 large spoonfuls of vanilla low fat yogurt (exclude if you have dairy intolerances)

Instructions

Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend it up. That's it! Cheers to a delicious morning start-me-up and a strong immune system.

Just a note: once you've opened the can of coconut milk, be sure to place the remaining contents in a container for refrigeration ]]> tag:betterme.ca,2010://3.144 2010-04-22T23:31:11Z 2010-04-23T00:20:54Z

You hear the name often, but did you know that weakness in this muscle can be a key producer of shoulder pain? Shoulder pain can be a source of great frustration. Weather it's preventing you from training or simply causing...

Sean
Shoulder pain can be a source of great frustration. Weather it's preventing you from training or simply causing you discomfort in your daily life, you'll need to develop a strategy to address it, as rest doesn't always resolve the condition.

Let me share a simple but essential exercise to include in your arsenal for creating shoulder health.

]]>
It's a muscle that is commonly weak in many people, even individuals who regularly weight train. The reasons for this can be many, but for the sake of a post that can become too wordy, let's just say the movements required to exercise this muscle are no longer movements we perform with much frequency. If we also add that you sit hunched in front of a computer screen all day, you can bet your Trapezius muscles are on a full sabbatical.

The exercise that you need to include in your daily activities is called the XYT. It's called this because the movements that you perform with your arms follow the pattern of X's, Y's, and T's. Let's get to it.

It's ideal to perform the exercise on a bench but it can be done on the floor as well.

Step one

Lie face down on the bench or floor. Hold your body perfectly straight with your head in alignment with your body.

Step two (perform the X)

Pull your shoulder blades together with considerable force.

Step three

Reach diagonally out ward with your thumbs pointing upward. Hold the end of this movement for a couple of seconds and return to the shoulder blades together position and finally bring your arms back down. It is really important to emphasize the pulling of your shoulder blades together. Repeat this for a total of 10 repetitions then immediately go to step four.











Step four (perform the Y)

Pull your shoulder blades together then reach more directly in front of you. Hold the end position for a few seconds and return to the shoulder blades together position, then bring the arms back down. Be sure to really pull the shoulders together as with the X movement. Repeat for 10 repetitions then go to step five.









Step five (perform the T)

Pull your shoulder blades together then reach straight out to your sides. Again be sure the thumbs are pointed upward. Hold the end movement for a couple of seconds and return to the shoulders together position, finally bringing the arms back down to the starting position. Repeat this for 10 repetitions.







form mt:asset-id="182" class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;">

A point to note in the technique; when you reach forward, keep your chest in contact with the bench. This will ensure that you don't over arch your lower back.

You can repeat the exercise 2-3 times and you should try to perform it about 4 times per week.

This post is not intended to replace a consultation with your health care practitioner. Always consult your doctor before doing exercise. ]]> tag:betterme.ca,2010://3.143 2010-04-06T01:42:25Z 2010-04-08T00:03:01Z

Hold the beef! Vegetarian chilli is a great option when you're trying to cut down on red meat....

Sean Hold the beef!

Vegetarian chilli is a great option when you're trying to cut down on red meat.

]]> 1/2 cup of brown lentils
1 med size onion (chopped)
2 large carrots (diced)
1 small green pepper (diced)
1 can of whole tomatoes
1 cup of chopped broccoli
3 large cloves of chopped garlic
4 1/2 cups of vegetable broth
1/4 cup of chilli powder (be sure it's not hot chili powder)
1/2 cup of coarsely chopped parsley
Salt and pepper to taste


Preparation:

-With 2 table spoons of canola oil, sauté the onions, carrots, and brown lentils in a deep pot for a couple of minutes.
-Add the broccoli, green pepper, and garlic and continue to cook for a couple more minutes.
-Add all the remaining ingredients and cook for about fifteen minutes. You'll notice that the red lentils begin to break up and disintegrate, creating a thickening of the mixture. Continue cooking until the carrots and brown lentils are tender. Add a little water and spices if necessary. Serves 6-8

Serve in a bowl with a large salad on the side. Avoid serving over rice if you're on a low starch diet. ]]> tag:betterme.ca,2010://3.142 2010-02-04T02:26:59Z 2010-02-04T03:10:13Z

This is a great recipe for anyone that's trying to avoid pasta or is perhaps just looking for a way to get more vegetables into their diet....

Sean This is a great recipe for anyone that's trying to avoid pasta or is perhaps just looking for a way to get more vegetables into their diet. ]]> Meat Sauce

1 medium size package of extra lean ground beef

1 large onion

1 can of crushed tomatoes

2 cloves of garlic

¼ tea spoon of oregano

¼ tea spoon of basil

2 cinnamon sticks

Salt and pepper to taste

Sauté the onions for a few minutes then add the ground beef. Break the cooking beef into small bits and once it's cooked, add the rest of the ingredients. Let it simmer with the cinnamon sticks for about a half hour on low heat.

Grated vegetables

Grate the following vegetables in a food processor and add to a large bowl

1 celery root

Here is a photo for anyone that is not familiar with this vegetable. To prepare it, you peel it as you would a turnip or a potatoe then cut it into thick slices that fit into the food processor.











2 large carrots

3 zucchini's

Sauté the grated vegetables in a large pan with olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. You may notice that the cooking vegetables produce too much liquid in the pan, so just tip as much out as you can. Perhaps use a large lid to press the vegetables so that you can eliminate the liquid while ensuring the contents remain in the pan.

Serve the vegetables as a base for your meat sauce and add parmesan cheese if you like. Serves 4. ]]> tag:betterme.ca,2009://3.141 2009-12-17T00:30:33Z 2009-12-17T01:13:47Z

The New Year is upon us and this time of year I am inundated with calls from people that need help in actualizing their New Years weight loss resolutions. In this post, I'm going to share with you, just what...

Sean The New Year is upon us and this time of year I am inundated with calls from people that need help in actualizing their New Years weight loss resolutions.

In this post, I'm going to share with you, just what I will most likely tell them.

]]>
Though that makes a great story, and we all love a great story; this is not reflective of what most of us will experience. The once overweight, now skinny jean wearing marathon runner, excites the human affinity to find purpose in narrative. Like all great stories, we'd like to replicate it in our own lives, but that could be the biggest mistake that could inevitably sideline your health goals.

There are so many books written that follow the logic of duplicating what others do to attain equal results: "The 7 habits of Highly Effective People" or "Studying the Lives of Successful People", etc... Whether this is an effective strategy in building professional and financial success raises its own questions and hopefully some doubt, but as far as following what others are doing and expecting identical results where health goals are concerned; it's an absolute myth. Not only do you have to contend with your own genetic body type but you also have to consider: your availability of time for exercise, knowledge of how to exercise, knowledge of cooking, family responsibilities, work demands, and let's not forget available energy to do it all.

The only sure way to move in the right direction that promotes a sustainable approach is to start building your own story. I'm not advocating totally ignoring the useful advice you can attain from others, I'm just emphasising the need to ensure that it can fit into your lifestyle and personal needs. For example; if someone says that running helped them to lose unwanted fat and you attempt it, but find it irritates your arches and knees; you may need to just try walking. In another instance; your colleague may praise the importance of eating organic, but your financial situation just may not allow for it. You shouldn't see this as a set back. You can align yourself with a perfectly healthy eating regime by purchasing your produce in the local grocery store. There are many ways to implement better health choices into your life. Don't get caught up in what others are doing especially if it's creating too much physical or mental conflict.

You need to look at what your means can produce and accept with pride that it is how your story must unfold at this particular chapter in your life.

Our life story is written one chapter at a time. You can't possibly learn proper nutrition, safe exercise, attitude adjustment, and commitment to a new health philosophy all in one chapter. Why is it that we have so much expectation in our ability to implement so much change and so quickly in this avenue of life? There's no other facet of our lives that we hold ourselves to such unrealistic standards.

This New Year, start developing your own story and as it unfolds, you'll have a better idea of the direction you're headed for. But like any story, you just have to stick to the plot.

Happy New Year ]]> tag:betterme.ca,2009://3.140 2009-12-09T14:40:19Z 2009-12-09T20:35:40Z

Suffering with a combination of pain and fatigue that lasts more than 6 months may be more than a rut. Pain and fatigue are often conditions that accompany one another, we have a tendency to want to identify them...

Sean Suffering with a combination of pain and fatigue that lasts more than 6 months may be more than a rut.

Pain and fatigue are often conditions that accompany one another, we have a tendency to want to identify them as separate conditions but more often than not, they have a direct link to one another. Women need to be particularly alert to this condition which is more frequently being referred to as; multisymptom illness.

]]>
When all is said and done, this is in essence, just a name given to a condition that feels like you are suffering from many different problems, but they indeed have a common cause (of which we will look at in a moment). People I see in my practice often refer to this as ", I feel like my body is falling apart." Doctors are becoming all too aware of this condition as approximately 50-60 percent of visits to primary care physicians are for complaints resembling the symptoms of MSI and result in no identifiable cause, even with exhaustive testing. The medical establishment acknowledges that in the context of pharmaceutical intervention; multisymptom illness remains virtually untreatable or at best, temporarily reduces some of the symptoms.

As frustrated and overwhelmed that one may be, with patience and a change in perspective, MSI can be successfully managed through lifestyle changes. We have thus far in our lives lived with the understanding that for most conditions there's a cure. That remedy is usually thought of as a prescription that we simply fill out in the pharmacy and in 10 days or so; we are cured. MSI doesn't quite work in accordance with this philosophy. What needs to be understood is that when we fail to provide our body with its basic needs, its integrity begins to fail in time. Those basic needs are: adequate rest, healthy food, moderate exercise, and recognizing our personal limitations. This is simply non negotiable! In our fast paced performance oriented lives, these basic needs are often left as optional aspects of our daily activities.

Inevitably, lack of exercise allows for muscle loss which in turn causes vulnerability to joint and postural pain. Too much stress and anxiety creates changes in our nervous system and produces hormonal imbalance which inevitably causes fatigue, mood swings, appetite fluctuations, sleeplessness, and full out fatigue. Each of these symptoms plays off the other, and creates a vicious cycle for which there is no pill in existence that can fix it. This condition doesn't have to remain beyond your control, and here are a few recommendations:

* Before you proceed with any plan, you want to be certain that you have ruled out all other medical causes for your symptoms with your doctor. Your doctor will certainly see small discrepancies in your testing ( as chronic fatigue, mood changes, and chronic pain will reveal themselves biologically) but he/she will be able to ascertain whether that they are significant enough to cause such debilitating symptoms.
* If you and your doctor are confident that you are suffering with MSI, it's time to dig in your heels and implement a long term plan built on short term goals. Improvement of this condition can't be evaluated on a day to day, or a week to week basis; it will take months to see changes. Herein lies your discipline; you need to persist even when results aren't evident in the short term.
* It can take months, and sometimes years of self neglect before MSI begins to manifest in more pronounced symptoms. The depletion of your physical health will take time to restore.
* Lack of sleep alone can cause almost all of the symptoms of MSI. Increase your sleep time and start creating bed time rituals. Make yourself some sleepy time tea before bed and avoid activities that keep you alert as sleep time approaches.
* Avoid energy drinks even if you feel that they help temporarily. They wreak havoc with your system.
* Avoid fast food at all cost.
* Limit alcohol consumption.
* This isn't the time for intense exercise. You should gradually include moderate physical activity into your daily routine. Walking, taking the stairs, and light weights; it all counts.
* Set realistic goals and perhaps just start with a couple of these recommendations.

If you push yourself to get better faster, you are showing that you don't truly understand the nature of this condition.

This post is not intended to diagnose or replace a consultation with a qualified physician. Always discuss your plan with your doctor. ]]> tag:betterme.ca,2009://3.139 2009-06-27T17:06:22Z 2009-06-27T17:33:57Z

The best rehab is the one you can avoid Women have certainly taken their place in the world of athletics. But in the last few years there's been a remarkable increase in knee injuries in the female population. We...

Sean The best rehab is the one you can avoid

Women have certainly taken their place in the world of athletics. But in the last few years there's been a remarkable increase in knee injuries in the female population.

We all can benefit from physical activity. Though exercise can be rewarding it can also be damaging if we don't pay attention to potential problem zones in our body. ]]>
Women involved in cycling, jumping sports, racquet sports, soccer, hockey, and jogging need to be especially attentive to this imbalance in the legs. The goal is to essentially calm down the muscles of the front of the thigh with stretching, and to work hard to strengthen the muscle in the back of the leg and buttock region. Exercises to avoid would be quadriceps extensions (horrible exercise for anyone), leg press, smith machine (another horrible machine for anyone), hack squat, and forward lunges.

I would recommend the following lower body program be introduced into your regular workout. It should be incorporated as follows:

Every other day

Quadriceps stretch, deep lateral stretch

3 times per week

Good mornings, single leg hip lifts, standing hamstring curls, reverse lunges (do 10-12 per leg and do all reps on one leg before you switch to the next leg. Repeat for 3-4 sets, single leg bent knee deadlift

Related reading:

Healthy Hamstrings

Postural wall exercise

Always consult your healthcare provider before beginning an exercise program to be certain that it is right for your condition. ]]> tag:betterme.ca,2009://3.138 2009-06-08T20:10:36Z 2009-06-08T20:42:43Z

The fitness industry should take a lesson from science. We wonder why we can't get some control over the obesity problem, but I don't think there's any mystery when all we've come up with are questionable fat burning tablets,...

Sean The fitness industry should take a lesson from science.

We wonder why we can't get some control over the obesity problem, but I don't think there's any mystery when all we've come up with are questionable fat burning tablets, weight loss cookies, and reality TV shows that make weight loss look just about impossible for the average overweight person.

It has become such a profitable industry that everyone wants to jump on the "wellness" wagon. This produces more and more products, each with magnificent claims that inevitably mislead people and deepen confusion. It's really at a point where no one knows what to believe. ]]>
There was an article not long ago in the Montreal Gazette, "Obese dying awaiting operations". This article generally praised the efficacy of bariatric surgery. This is a procedure that limits the volume of the stomach so that the individual doesn't eat as much. I was elated when a Montreal doctor wrote to the Gazette (June 6th editorials); clearly pointing out that there is not a single randomized, controlled trial proving that these surgeries provide long term benefits. Imagine, if there's conflicting opinions in the medical field-where the scientific method is so rigidly applied-just think of the endless possibilities for deceit in the fitness industry where there's absolutely no standards.

Claims are so easily made with absolutely no empirical evidence to support them. What is being taught is generally ideologically based, so the information is corrupt with personal opinions and practically no supporting data.

Exercise and improved nutrition, at this point in time, are the only two methods that have demonstrated-through the abundance of research required to make any legitimate claim-to help an individual to manage their weight in a sustainable way. In fact, most weight loss products include-in small print-the importance of lifestyle changes; such as eating more responsibly and exercising. This information is included because even the most uninformed "wellness professional" knows that maintaining weight loss is impossible without exercise and proper eating. So in the end, what was responsible for the weight loss; the product or the lifestyle changes? We can't answer that question in any definitive way, because there's no peer reviewed data, no ongoing scrutiny of the claim, no science; just an opinion. ]]> tag:betterme.ca,2009://3.136 2009-06-06T01:37:50Z 2009-06-06T02:32:52Z

These are often the most overlooked muscles in a training program. For those of you who aren't familiar with the hamstrings, they're the muscles down the back of your upper leg. People frequently complain of tightness in this area,...

Sean These are often the most overlooked muscles in a training program.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the hamstrings, they're the muscles down the back of your upper leg. People frequently complain of tightness in this area, and despite constant stretching; they just don't let up.

If you've tried just about everything and this condition still persists, you may want to give the following suggestion a shot. ]]>
* stop stretching the back of your legs and start stretching the front of them. This is a perfect exercise to get the job done. Quadriceps stretch

* tightness in the hips can cause irritation of the hamstrings muscles, so include these two hip mobility exercises. Figure 4 active hip stretch, and deep lateral lunge.

* start a strength training routine immediately; that puts emphasis on hamstring strength. Try this series of exercises.

Good mornings
Standing hamstring curls or Single leg hip lifts if you don't have access to a gym
Single leg bent knee deadlifts

Do all the above mentioned exercises 2-3 times per week and you should see significant improvement to your condition within 3-4 weeks.

Always see your healthcare provider before beginning an exercise program. ]]> tag:betterme.ca,2009://3.133 2009-05-15T00:13:45Z 2009-05-15T00:37:05Z

Here we go again with the grains! Today's local news paper ran an article on the importance of folic acid in our diets. Folic acid (folate) is extreemly important for cell health. It's of particular importance during rapid cell...

Sean Here we go again with the grains!

Today's local news paper ran an article on the importance of folic acid in our diets.

Folic acid (folate) is extreemly important for cell health. It's of particular importance during rapid cell production which occurs during fetal development, recovery from injury, and infant growth. I'd also like to include that stress causes extensive cell damage, and folic acid consumption would assist with the bolstering of quality cell production, in times of stress. ]]>
Let me say that there are far better sources from which to obtain folic acid other than whole grains. Spinach, romaine lettuce, and just about all leafy greens are a tremendous source. The great part about the greens is that they are also more favourable in as far as weight management goes. It doesn't stop there; green vegetables are nutrient dense foods, meaning that they posses nutritious elements that most other foods don't. They are full of; calcium, phytonutrients (essential plant compounds that are great for you), a whole plethora of vitamins, folic acid, fibre, they won't spike up your blood sugar, and have far less calories than grain products. Whole grains just can't compete with all that.

I think grains are a component in most of our society's favourite delicious foods, and that makes articles that support consumption of them so attractive. Hell, a few months ago there was a totally blown-out-of-proportion salmonella scare that involved spinach; nobody would touch the poor leafy green titan with a 10 foot pole. I wonder if people would respond with such fervour if the same scare involved grain. I could just hear the response, "What, avoid cereal, pasta, bread, and muffins; they must be mistaken!" ]]> tag:betterme.ca,2009://3.132 2009-05-12T23:58:28Z 2009-05-13T00:42:06Z

If this looks like your posture, I strongly recommend that you do this exercise. Once you're able to complete this movement while maintaining all the following steps, you can bet your shoulders will feel as good as new! You...

Sean If this looks like your posture, I strongly recommend that you do this exercise.

Once you're able to complete this movement while maintaining all the following steps, you can bet your shoulders will feel as good as new!

You have to be attentive to details on this exercise; it's not for someone who just wants to get it done and out of the way. Follow the sequence closely: ]]>
-Stand about 2 feet from a wall.

- Lean back onto the wall with your knees partially bent.



- Presses your lower back into the wall and draw your chin inward while keeping the back of your head in contact with the wall. Maintain all areas of your back flat and in contact with the surface. Be certain that there are no spaces between your back and the wall, from your buttock to your neck. The only space that you won't be able to completely close is behind your neck.

- Raise your arms back and try to make contact with as much surface area of the wall as possible.

- To increase traction up the back and neck drag the back of your head up the wall while maintaining the contact. Think that you want to touch the back of your neck to the wall.

Step 2

-Maintaining all the features of step 1, begin to slide your arm down the wall while keeping the shoulder and arm in as much contact with the wall as possible.



Step 3

-When your arm arrives at the parallel point to the floor, begin to rotate the arm so the palm of the hand contacts the wall. This motion will cause the shoulder to want to come up off the wall; but resist that pull and keep the shoulder and as much of the arm as possible against the wall.



Step 4

-Try to touch your finger tips to your lower back, but don't lift the lower back away from the wall to make space. Remember to keep the shoulder pressed back as well. Slowly return to the starting position, reversing the sequence. Repeat the movement about 10 times per arm, and try to do it at least once a day.



Always talk to your health care provider before starting an exercise program, to be sure these exercises are good for your condition. ]]> tag:betterme.ca,2009://3.131 2009-05-09T19:56:35Z 2009-05-10T02:29:08Z

If you have a goal, behave like you do. No matter what your goal is, there's a behaviour that must be demonstrated to go along with it. I don't think we'd have trouble agreeing on the fact that goals...

Sean If you have a goal, behave like you do.

No matter what your goal is, there's a behaviour that must be demonstrated to go along with it.

I don't think we'd have trouble agreeing on the fact that goals are important; and I'm equally certain that we can agree that the best goals are goals that can be obtained. In order to achieve our goals, we need to devise a plan of action and align our actions with that plan.

In the health and fitness world it's common to meet people that establish goals to get fit and lose weight. Having met so many individuals full of great intentions, it's always preferable to see them move toward actualizing their plan without too much frustration. ]]>
Let's take for example, someone who would like to lose weight. They affirm this desire to themselves. The goal to lose weight is set in motion, yet they can't resist sweets and give in every time temptation sets in. When it's brought to their attention, their response is that," it's too good to pass up." A common reaction is," I've gotta live too." This is indicative that the individual is not ready to dedicate what is required for that particular goal. Like it or not, every goal has it's specific required sacrifices, and there's no way it can be attained by skirting around what's required.

It's so much better psychologically to pick another goal; one that you can align your behaviour with, with more certainty that you can stay on track. Maybe just deciding to make better choices each day regarding nutrition or just trying to be more physically active can be a much better start. One thing is certain; subjecting oneself to constantly fail at the same goal, eventually erodes the belief that you can change.

It seems that we become so frustrated with our present circumstance that we just want it to change now. This type of frustration can cause us to focus too much on the end result- which can be quite overwhelming- forgetting that it's the day to day choices that will eventually get us there. ]]> tag:betterme.ca,2009://3.130 2009-05-07T00:38:26Z 2009-05-07T00:58:03Z

Weight loss plans need to have one key element to ensure your success. If I were to pick one of the most fundamental features needed in a plan to lose weight, I'd say it has to be sustainable. Sustainability...

Sean Weight loss plans need to have one key element to ensure your success.

If I were to pick one of the most fundamental features needed in a plan to lose weight, I'd say it has to be sustainable. Sustainability offers the insurance that whatever method you use, it not only produces the desired result, but it ensures that you'll be able to keep that result indefinitely, with whatever method you use.

Many overweight people know all too well about losing weight and putting it back on. There's no value in a weight loss plan that helps you to lose, only to regain it later. If it's not sustainable, it's not useful. ]]>
I think that when someone only focuses on weight loss they're putting all their eggs in one basket and seriously ignoring the many other elements of what a superior health plan should consist of.

To be certain that you adopt a sustainable approach, I recommend that you forget about the scale and make healthier living your goal. Once you adopt this more global philosophy of self care, your efforts will become more all encompassing. When you start your day off with a healthy breakfast, make an effort to be more positive, and promise to try and move your body more; you will have significantly increased the healthy value of that day.

Once you've lived a few weeks of challenging yourself to live with more respect for your body and mind, you'll become more self aware and see that many features of your life are calling for your attention. This is where sustainability comes into play. When we work on self improvement, there is no end destination. It's a work in progress and as we question our food choices, try to find physical activities that give us pleasure, and work to build a better relationship with ourselves; we will inevitably become more healthy and happy. ]]>