FITNESS (special cycling series)
How Others Have Lost Weight and How You Can Too
the power of pedaling can pummel your pounds
I admit it. I have two sets of clothes. Seriously, I do. I have my winter fat clothes and my summer skinny clothes. In the Pacific Northwest when the sun begins to show its warm face in late April but, in the case June. Warm sunny days mean one thing for me and that is cycling. Cycling is one of the best sports you can participate in because just about anybody can do it. I have even gotten my 70 year old dad on a bike.
I will generally lose about ten pound the first month of steady riding and another ten the following month without changing my diet in fact, I eat more.
A few months ago I ran across an article about a fellow Portland resident Scott Cutshall. According to the article, at 501 pounds, Scott was told by doctors he would be dead in six months if he didn't lose weight. He went on to lose 320 by committing to a healthy diet and of course riding a bike. I want to emphasize that this monumental weight loss didn't come easy for him but, he pushed through the pain and turned his life around. And so can you.
My friend, Jennifer, has been battling weight her whole life but hit rock bottom a few years ago. After tipping the scales at 200 lbs (she only stands at 5'2”) Jennifer realized she had accepted her weight and explained it away. Yes, she seemed to have a 'slower' metabolism. Yes, she had given birth to 3 kids within 4 years. But those were just excuses.
After losing her own mother to weight-related issues, Jennifer decided it was time to step up to the plate and drop those extra pounds that were making her miserable. Jennifer knew she was the only one making decisions for herself. She chose what to eat and she chose whether or not she is going to get up off the couch.
The first thing she did was figure out an exercise program. She knew that she had to do some cardiovascular training regularly if she was going to drop any weight. Jennifer felt she was too heavy to run and did not feel confident on the cross-trainers. So she decided to start with cycling.
She went out and bought her first bike in 20 years and set to work. S he started slow and worked at her own pace on her new Trek bicycle because she knew that as she got better she could step up that pace and work harder.
Of course it was hard at first for her to last more than 10 minutes, but within a month she was cycling at a moderate speed for 30-40 minutes five times a week! She began to feel more energetic, she was eating less, and losing weight. After just three months she had lost an incredible 31 pounds!
Last I heard Jennifer was 'googling' the American Diabetes Tour de Cure to decide which race she was going to join.
Talk about motivated! Jennifer has proven that with commitment, a positive attitude, and a bike, anybody can lose weight and be happy doing it!
It does not matter what fitness level you are. Whether you spent the winter months hibernating, manage to run a few days a week or religiously get your heart rate up before the rooster crows, cycling will help you lose weight.
Cycling is one of the most universal, fun ways to get your adrenaline pumping and the extra pounds melting away. Whether you are 80 and limited in your movements or 20, fit and limber, cycling can help you get healthy fast!
Don't have a bike? Register to win a Trek and get $10 to use in the Steviva Store: http://www.steviva.com/news/trek-bike-sweepstakes/
This information and other information on this site is intended for general reference purposes only and is not intended to address specific medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. No information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition.
YOUR BODY
Cellulite
beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Lumps and bumps in the world of beauty are like a bad word to be banned from our hips and thighs, especially when it is near beach and bathing suite season. Cellulite appears due to the combination of the fat, muscle, and connective tissue distribution. Fat deposits deeper in the skin push on the connective tissue and cause the smooth mesh to become distorted. This actually can be considered normal, and the appearance simply varies on the person's gender, females have higher pre-disposition due to higher concentrations of body fat. However, other factors also include genetics, skin thickness, fat distribution, and age.
Eight out of ten women “suffer” from this seemingly insignificant problem. Although, our society and culture have shaped our view points to make it as though cellulite is unsightly, contributing to the booming so-called “anti-aging” industry, or my preferential name “optimal aging”. If we were to go back to the hunter-gatherer times, perhaps cellulite would be consider prized for a person to have, as those fat stores could be a source of energy to be used as fuel for the body in a time of famine.
Famine is over for many, and in America it seems to be feast at all times. Thus, contributing to our epidemic increased body fat percentages. Targeting the reduction of fat stores could possibly decrease the bumps that drive us nuts. Ways to do this aside from the infamous slogan of “diet and exercise” include at home topical creams and devices that help the appearance. There are also professional treatments that are available at medical spas. Depending on the severity, the combination of both may be the most beneficial.
From the holistic perspective it is best to have a multi-faceted approach to any problem, as well as choosing ingredients that are non-toxic. Refer to the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ and The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at www.safecosmentics.org for more information on product safety.
Take a moment, look in the mirror, and compliment yourself out loud on one thing that you see that is beautiful about your body. Remember, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, a paraphrased quote from Plato. Think, see, and be your beautiful self!
In Good Health & Beauty,
Dr. Alisha Moadab, N.D.
Soleil Medical Spa
Dr. Alisha N.D.