SISTERS OF THE FAITH ™» Weightloss

Keep it Pumping!

LaToia Brown — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:08:39 +0000

Keep it pumping…your heart, that is. Since 1963, the United States has used the month of February to observe American Heart Health Month. This February educate yourself and those near and dear to you about living healthy lifestyles.

Decades of progress in the United States on cutting cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking are being stalled by rising obesity rates, and heart disease will kill around 400,000 Americans this year, experts said on Monday.

Indeed, these are all staggering statistics but, we have to power to change them dramatically. We can change our undisciplined mindsets toward health. Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. If we can trust God with our job search, marriages, children and finances we can surely trust the one who created these bodies to best teach us how to care for them.

One half of African American women will die from stroke or heart disease. African American adults are less likely to be diagnosed with coronary heart disease, however they are more likely to die from heart disease. Although African American adults are 40% more likely to have high blood pressure, they are 10% less likely than their non-Hispanic White counterparts to have their blood pressure under control.

African American and Hispanic American/Latina women should be concerned about getting heart disease because they tend to have more risk factors than white women. These risk factors include obesity, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. If you’re a woman of color, take steps to reduce your risk factors.

Take action to reduce heart disease risk:

Be physically active
Don’t smoke
Eat healthy
Maintain a normal weight
Know your numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides)

Source: WomensHealth.gov: Feb. 2010

Stay tuned this month for more updates, tips, recipes and other resources that lead to a healthier, happier you!

Blessings…

Senior Weight lifting Wonder!

COREN BURCH — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:49:39 +0000

Okay ladies, if this doesn’t motivate you I don’t know what will. This video speaks for itself. You’ve got to see this..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6az9Kb0B-I

Good Health God’s Way

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:01:00 +0000

The God’s Pharmacy email has been around the world wide web numerous times but it is still a great reminder of how we should remember to take care of these bodies that God has given to us. Enjoy!

1. A sliced Carrot resembles the human eye including the pupil, iris, and radiating lines. Science indicates that carrots help protect the vision, especially night vision. WHFoods: Carrots

2. A Tomato has up to four chambers and is commonly red. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene and helps prevent heart disease, prostate cancer, breast cancer and more. Tomato juice can also reduce the tendency toward blood clotting. WHFoods: Tomatoes

3. Grapes hang in a cluster that resembles the shape of the heart. The stronger the color of the grape is, the higher the concentration of phytonutrients. Grapes prevent heart disease and reduce platelet clumping and harmful blood clots. WHFoods: Grapes

4. Walnuts resemble the brain, mimicking the wrinkles and folds of the neocortex. Research suggests that walnuts may reduce the risk or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Walnut – Wikipedia The high concentration of omega-3 fats in walnuts promotes healthy brain function. WHFoods: Walnuts

5. Kidney Beans, true to their name are kidney shaped. They provide nutrients that are helpful to the human kidneys. Kidney beans contain molybdenum, which helps sulfite oxidase to form and is responsible for detoxifying sulfites WHFoods: Kidney beans. Animal research has shown that chronic renal failure has been associated with oxidative stress Sulfite-mediated oxidative stress in kidney cells.

6. Celery has a bone like appearance and is rich in silicon and Vitamin K, which are needed for healthy joints and bones Gillian McKeith You Are What You Eat

7. Avocados were used by the Aztecs as a sex stimulant and the Aztec name for avocado was ahuacatl, meaning “testicle” History of Avocados. An extract of avocado impedes the growth of both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. WHFoods: Avocados

8. Figs have a rich history and often been referred to as a sexual food, this is partly symbolic due to the appearance of the fruit. Figs are loaded with seeds and when halved, many note a resemblance to female genitalia. The Hindu name for fig is anjeer and research has shown that anjeer is helpful for sexual weakness Ficus carica – medicinal plants. Figs have also been mentioned as a source helpful for male fertility and motility. Health-info.org

9. Oranges, Grapefruits and other Citrus fruits have been compared to the appearance of female mammary glands. These fruits contain nutrients that are helpful in the fight against breast cancer. Health Benefits of Citrus Limonoids Explored

10. Sliced Onions resemble skin cells and contain quercetin. Studies have shown when treated with a combination of quercetin and ultrasound at 20 kHz for 1-minute duration, skin and prostate cancers show a 90% mortality within 48 hours with no visible mortality of normal cells. Quercetin – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

11. Sweet Potatoes resemble the pancreas and have a low glycemic index count, which is beneficial for diabetics. North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission

12. Olives resemble ovaries and may help reduce hot flashes in women going through menopause. WHFoods: Olives Research indicates that Olive Oil may reduce ovarian cancer by 30%. ACS: Olive Oil May Lower Ovarian Cancer Risk

It’s been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish… all before making a human. God made and provided what we’d need before we were born. These foods are best and more powerful when eaten raw. God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!

	A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye… and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.
	A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.
	Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
	A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.
	Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
	Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don’t have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.
	Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female – they look just like these organs. Today’s research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (mo dern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).
	Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.
	Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actual ly bal ance the glycemic index of diabetics.
	Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries
	Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just l ike the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
	Onions look like the body’s cells. Research shows onions clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. Garlic also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

Beginner’s Guide to Fitness

COREN BURCH — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:27:25 +0000

I have found a great resource to help you lose those unwanted pounds through diet and exercise. I personally know that it can be overwhelming when trying to begin the process. What should/shouldn’t I eat? What type of exercises should I be doing? How long? These are some of the many questions one may ask when starting their new routine.

FitnessBegin.com is beneficial in helping those starting out. It offers information on health, nutrition, various diets, and exercise. The website states:

The aim for this website is to become a good resource for fitness information. It’s been designed in such a way to make each page interesting. Whether it’s the writing, pictures, tables of statistics or first rate reference sources, there’s always something to look at.

Simply, the author Simon Gould from London, England decided to make his own website to fit his needs and has decided to share his findings and information.

Remember to always consult your doctor when beginning a fitness and diet regimen.

Related Blogs

6 Ways Anyone Can Lose a Few Pounds This Summer

COREN BURCH — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:32:59 +0000

by Lisa Copen

[1] Switch to Sugar-Free Sodas
According to the American Dietetic Association, eliminating soda alone could help you lose 11 pounds per year and the less you drink the less you will crave it. Consider a soda a splurge, like a dessert, and choose the low-calorie options. Coca Cola recently released Diet Coke with Splenda, which is considered a better option than aspartame to many weight watchers as well as Coke Zero, which tastes a lot like Coca Cola, but without the sugar.

[2] Eat a Salad First
In a 2004 study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Dr. Rolls reports that women on average ate 7 percent less pasta if they first had one and one half cups of salad with reduced fat or non-fat dressing. If only her name wasn’t Dr. Rolls!

[3] Drink Water
Few people get enough water and certain medications can make you even more dehydrated. If you want to burn more calories, drink it chilled. One gallon of ice water will help you burn 200 calories more than if it was room temperature. You burn about 1 calorie per ounce of chilled water that you drink. Always have bottles of water with you, especially in the car on hot days. You’ll be less likely to run through a drive through and get a soda.

[4] Get a Pedometer
It’s actually a fun way to watch the calories you burn. 1000 steps equals 50 calories burned, so wear it on your errands and it just may motivate you to add a few extra steps to your daily routine. For under $20 you can get one that has an automatic voice tell you how many calories you’ve burned and inform you when you’ve met your exercise goals.

[5] Get More Sleep
According to many studies, just one week of sleep deprivation reduces the production of the growth hormone that helps control the body’s proportion of muscle to fat. When the body produces less of this hormone, there is a tendency for the body to store fat.

[6] Buy Controlled Servings of Food
Okay, so if you have to snack, spend the extra few cents on the new 100-calories packs of cookies or crackers, the small cans of cola that are just 100 calories, or the mini-bags of popcorn. The calories are easy to keep track of, you won’t be tempted to overeat – just don’t open that second bag!

===============

19 ways to burn calories in 15 minutes!

Watching TV=16 calories
Passenger in car=16 calories
(50+ if your teen is driving)
Kneeling in prayer=16 calories
Taking a bath=24 calories
Talking on phone=24 calories
Family picnic (without
arguing)=24 calories
Computer work=24 calories
Pumping gas=32 calories
Making Beds=32 calories
Grocery shopping=37 calories
Dusting=40 calories
Clearing dishes from table=
40 calories
Stretching=40 calories
Picking flowers=48 calories
Walking 3 mph=52 calories
Vacuuming=56 calories
Carrying infant=56 calories
Hula dancing=71 calories
Jogging in water=127 calories
* Based on a female, age 45, 5’4″, 140 lbs.

Source: http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=42297

God Created Health Poem

COREN BURCH — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:39:49 +0000

On our path to total physical wellness, it is hard to turn down those foods that have contributed to our unhealthy lifestyle. Sometimes it seems when you are trying to do right, there is always something there to entice you to eat the wrong thing. I found this story; it is very humorous, but it speaks to the struggle of eating the right foods.

Just wanted to share an entertaining little story that was given to me by Dr. Livingston:

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach; red, yellow, and green vegetables of every kind so that Man and Woman would live long healthy lives.

Then, using God’s great gifts, Satan created Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Satan said, “You want chocolate with that?” and Man said, “Yes!” and Woman said, “While you’re at it, could you add some sprinkles to that too?” and they gained 10 pounds. Satan smiled.

So God created the healthful yogurt so that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. But Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat and sugar from the cane and combined them; and Woman went from a size 6 to a size 14.

God said, “Try my fresh green salad” and Satan brought forth Thousand Island Dressing, buttery croutons, and garlic toast on the side; and Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, “I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them.” But Satan brought forth the tempting deep-fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big that it needed it’s own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.

God then created a fluffy white cake named Angel Food Cake and said, “It is good.” Satan created a chocolate cake named Devil’s Food Cake and said, “But mine is better.”

As a result, God brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. But Satan created cable TV with a remote control so Man would not need to toil with changing channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the great flickering blue light- and gained more weight.

Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrients. And Satan peeled off the leathy skin, sliced the starchy center into chips and deep fried them- and Man gained more weight.

God then gave lean beef, so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. But Satan created McDonald’s and it’s 99 cent double cheeseburger. Then Satan said. “You want fries with that?” And Man said, “Yes…SUPERSIZE THEM!” And Satan said, “It is good.” And Man went into cardiac arrest.

God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery- and Satan created HMOs…

Source: http://www.pratherwellnesscommunity.com/profiles/blogs/god-created-health-poem

“And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.’” (Genesis 1:29)

We’re On Our Way!

LaToia Brown — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:44:07 +0000

Congratulations to everyone that has joined our group for the 50 Million Pound Challenge. We have taken our first step toward getting our physical bodies into tip top condition. If we are to be soldiers in God’s Army we need to get these bodies that we have leased (since we are not our own, having been purchased with a price) into shape. We have kingdom business to attend to so lets get prepared. I encourage each of you to take advantage of the free meal planner. I will begin to log all of my meals and physical activity to measure my progress and I encourage you to do the same. I look forward to hearing your success stories and testimonies of victory.

Wanna Live Until 100+…

LaToia Brown — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:32:02 +0000

We’ve all wondered with amazement about how so many biblical figures lived well into triple digits. How could they accomplish this without all of the medical and technological advances that we have today? Here are a few tips I found to help us along the way.

10 Health Habits That Will Help You Live to 100

You don’t need to eat yogurt and live on a mountaintop, but you do need to floss

By Deborah Kotz

Posted February 20, 2009

The biggest factor that determines how well you age is not your genes but how well you live. Not convinced? A new study published in the British Medical Journal of 20,000 British folks shows that you can cut your risk of having a stroke in half by doing the following four things: being active for 30 minutes a day, eating five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and avoiding cigarettes and excess alcohol.

While those are some of the obvious steps you can take to age well, researchers have discovered that centenarians tend to share certain traits in how they eat, move about, and deal with stress—the sorts of things we can emulate to improve our own aging process. Of course, getting to age 100 is enormously more likely if your parents did. Still, Thomas Perls, who studies the century-plus set at Boston University School of Medicine, believes that assuming you’ve sidestepped genes for truly fatal diseases like Huntington’s, “there’s nothing stopping you from living independently well into your 90s.” Heck, if your parents and grandparents were heavy smokers, they might have died prematurely without ever reaching their true potential lifespan, so go ahead and shoot for those triple digits. Follow these 10 habits, and check out Perls’ lifetime risk calculator to see how long you can expect to live.

1. Don’t retire. “Evidence shows that in societies where people stop working abruptly, the incidence of obesity and chronic disease skyrockets after retirement,” says Luigi Ferrucci, director of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. The Chianti region of Italy, which has a high percentage of centenarians, has a different take on leisure time. “After people retire from their jobs, they spend most of the day working on their little farm, cultivating grapes or vegetables,” he says. “They’re never really inactive.” Farming isn’t for you? Volunteer as a docent at your local art museum or join the Experience Corps, a program offered in 19 cities that places senior volunteers in urban public elementary schools for about 15 hours a week.

2. Floss every day. That may help keep your arteries healthy. A 2008 New York University study showed that daily flossing reduced the amount of gum-disease-causing bacteria in the mouth. This bacteria is thought to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in the arteries, a major risk factor for heart disease. Other research has shown that those who have high amounts of bacteria in their mouth are more likely to have thickening in their arteries, another sign of heart disease. “I really do think people should floss twice a day to get the biggest life expectancy benefits,” stresses Perls.

3. Move around. “Exercise is the only real fountain of youth that exists,” says Jay Olshansky, a professor of medicine and aging researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “It’s like the oil and lube job for your car. You don’t have to do it, but your car will definitely run better.” Study after study has documented the benefits of exercise to improve your mood, mental acuity, balance, muscle mass, and bones. “And the benefits kick in immediately after your first workout,” Olshansky adds. Don’t worry if you’re not a gym rat. Those who see the biggest payoffs are the ones who go from doing nothing to simply walking around the neighborhood or local mall for about 30 minutes a day. Building muscle with resistance training is also ideal, but yoga classes can give you similar strength-training effects if you’re not into weight lifting.

4. Eat a fiber-rich cereal for breakfast. Getting a serving of whole-grains, especially in the morning, appears to help older folks maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the day, according to a recent study conducted by Ferrucci and his colleagues. “Those who do this have a lower incidence of diabetes, a known accelerator of aging,” he says.

5. Get at least six hours of shut-eye. Instead of skimping on sleep to add more hours to your day, get more to add years to your life. “Sleep is one of the most important functions that our body uses to regulate and heal cells,” says Ferrucci. “We’ve calculated that the minimum amount of sleep that older people need to get those healing REM phases is about six hours.” Those who reach the century mark make sleep a top priority.

6. Consume whole foods, not supplements. Strong evidence suggests that people who have high blood levels of certain nutrients—selenium, beta-carotene, vitamins C and E—age much better and have a slower rate of cognitive decline. Unfortunately, there’s no evidence that taking pills with these nutrients provides those antiaging benefits. “There are more than 200 different carotenoids and 200 different flavonoids in a single tomato,” points out Ferrucci, “and these chemicals can all have complex interactions that foster health beyond the single nutrients we know about like lycopene or vitamin C.” Avoid nutrient-lacking white foods (breads, flour, sugar) and go for all those colorful fruits and vegetables and dark whole-grain breads and cereals with their host of hidden nutrients.

7. Be less neurotic. It may work for Woody Allen, who infuses his worries with a healthy dose of humor, but the rest of us neurotics may want to find a new way to deal with stress. “We have a new study coming out that shows that centenarians tend not to internalize things or dwell on their troubles,” says Perls. “They are great at rolling with the punches.” If this inborn trait is hard to overcome, find better ways to manage when you’re stressed: Yoga, exercise, meditation, tai chi, or just deep breathing for a few moments are all good. Ruminating, eating chips in front of the TV, binge drinking? Bad, very bad.

8. Live like a Seventh Day Adventist . Americans who define themselves as Seventh Day Adventists have an average life expectancy of 89, about a decade longer than the average American. One of the basic tenets of the religion is that it’s important to cherish the body that’s on loan from God, which means no smoking, alcohol abuse, or overindulging in sweets. Followers typically stick to a vegetarian diet based on fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts, and get plenty of exercise. They’re also very focused on family and community.

9. Be a creature of habit. Centenarians tend to live by strict routines, says Olshansky, eating the same kind of diet and doing the same kinds of activities their whole lives. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is another good habit to keep your body in the steady equilibrium that can be easily disrupted as you get on in years. “Your physiology becomes frailer when you get older,” explains Ferrucci, “and it’s harder for your body to bounce back if you, say, miss a few hours of sleep one night or drink too much alcohol.” This can weaken immune defenses, leaving you more susceptible to circulating flu viruses or bacterial infections.

10. Stay connected. Having regular social contacts with friends and loved ones is key to avoiding depression, which can lead to premature death, something that’s particularly prevalent in elderly widows and widowers. Some psychologists even think that one of the biggest benefits elderly folks get from exercise the strong social interactions that come from walking with a buddy or taking a group exercise class. Having a daily connection with a close friend or family member gives older folks the added benefit of having someone watch their back. “They’ll tell you if they think your memory is going or if you seem more withdrawn,” says Perls, “and they might push you to see a doctor before you recognize that you need to see one yourself.”

Go Red

COREN BURCH — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:47:12 +0000

As we know, today is National Wear Red Day, this is an ongoing campaign. Here are some interesting facts about disease among women.

*Coronary heart disease is the No#1 killer of women over age 20. Cardiovascular disease kills about 460,000 women a year.

*While one in 30 American women die of breast cancer, almost one in three will die from cardiovascular disease.

*Cardiovascular disease causes approximately one death per minute among females in the U.S.

*43 million American women are living with cardiovascular disease.

*64% of women who dies suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms.

*African-American and Mexican-American women have higher heart disease and stroke risk factors than white women of compariable socioeconomic status.

*Heart disease rates in post-menopausal women are two to three times higher than in pre-men0pausal women of the same age.

Five Simple Ways to Choose Heart Health

1. Choose to celebrate with a checkup. Let each birthday remind you that it’s time for your yearly checkup and a talk with your doctor about how you can reduce your risk for heart disease.

2. Choose to get off the couch. Step, march or jog in place for at least 30 minutes most days of the week-you can even do it while watching TV.

3. Choose to avoid smoking. Can’t go cold turkey? Cut the number of cigarettes you smoke each day in half; then cut that number in half; cut it in half again; finally, cut down to zero!

4. Choose drop a few pounds. Want to reach a heart-healthy weight? To lose one to two pounds per week, cut 500 to 1,000 calories per day through either diet and/or physical activity.

5. Choose to use less salt. Check out the Nutrition Facts panel on packaged foods to see how much sodium they contain. For average Americans, limit your sodium/salt intake to 2,300 mg (about a teaspoon full) of sodium a day.

Learn the facts at GoRedForWomen.org

Benefits of Exercising for Women Part 2

COREN BURCH — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:00:51 +0000

I have found and experienced some wonderful benefits of exercising! I know it can be hard to get started, but it is well worth it. The short and and long term benefits of keeping your body moving will out weigh dragging yourself to go exercise. Our bodies were created to move and not be sedentary. This is one of the best ways to keep your body youthful, healthy and strong. Find something that you enjoy doing. If you don’t like walking, try aerobics, if not aerobics, bike riding, etc. Anything to get your body moving. Always remember to consult a doctor before you begin an exercise regimen. Please read and enjoy!

Personalize Your Fitness Plan
Various types of exercise promote different adaptations in the body. It’s helpful to be clear about the benefits associated with different kinds of activity so you can achieve the most meaningful and effective results. Use the following information to help select the type of exercise that will give you the greatest health rewards based on your individual health risks and concerns.

Do you want to:
Lose fat, weight or stay slim?
• Both low and high-intensity cardiovascular exercise can help burn calories. Choose options that work with your body and put a smile on your face, such as walking, cycling, jogging, swimming, rowing, aerobics, or dancing. Beginners should start slowly and gradually incorporate a variety of activities into their plan. If you’re carrying lots of extra weight, avoid high impact activities initially. Work your way up to exercising harder, longer or more frequently. Alternate long easy-paced workouts with shorter, more challenging exercise sessions. Build a habit of activity.
• Strength training can boost your metabolism by building or maintaining muscle. This helps burn fat even while you’re sleeping. Strong muscles also enable you to exercise without getting hurt.
Improve bone health?
• Weight-bearing exercise: consider walking, jogging, dancing, tennis, soccer, basketball, etc. Vigorous and high-impact activities stimulate great bone strength, but also require better overall fitness and bone health to be performed safely. Check with your doctor about the best options for you.
• Strength training: Strong muscles build strong bones. Gradually develop a program that challenges all the muscles in your body: hips, legs, trunk, shoulders and arms. For example, you can use dumbbells, weight machines, exercise bands, or do calisthenics or Pilates. Progress to free weights so your body has to work harder to stabilize and balance itself. Learn and practice good posture during exercise.

Decrease risk of heart disease/high blood pressure/diabetes?
• Frequent, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise is a great way to improve your cardiovascular health. For example, gradually build up to walking two miles briskly (in about 30 minutes) just about every day.
• Ask a fitness professional about circuit weight-training. This type of exercise can increase both strength and stamina in the same workout and improve your overall health.

Look like Cindy Crawford?
• Forget it! You’re you. She’s a 5’9” model with different genes and different jeans. Your goal should be like one of those U.S. Armed Forces commercials: Be all that you can be. In other words, work with what you’ve got to be as healthy as possible. And remember, fitness is not just about how you look. It’s about how you feel, how you carry yourself and what your body can do for you.

Increase energy level?
• You’d think that exercise would make you even more tired. But ask anybody who exercises regularly. You get more energy and sleep better if you are physically active. Try