About Me

I have been a teacher of fitness and health for thirty years. In 1989 I was certified for personal training with the National Acadamy of Sports Medicine. I had a gym in Santa Barbara for eight years. Co-owned and created a spinning bike company which manufactured bikes for five years. Also I have worked with nutrition companies for twenty years. Along with many wonderful non famous people I have trained many celebrities, and members of the Royal Family. My own athletic past consists of long distance running, long distance cycling, cross country skiing, down hill skiing, rollerblading, hiking, sand running, track work, and weight training. I have authored two fitness columns in local papers, and have been writing this blog since January 2010.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Our Relationship With Our Body



It seems that our relationship with our body is a very complicated thing.  Some of us feel that, "I am not my body", while others feel that their body is a lot of who they are.  Your body "is" a part of you.  It may not be "who" you are, but it is "part" of who you are.  Without your body you would not exist.  




We are born into this body to experience this human existence.  As an infant we rely on others to take care of us and be responsible for the needs of our body.  As we grow older we learn to care for our body's ourselves with such things as bathing, eating, sleeping, and hopefully exercising. 

 
We are given guardianship of our body.  It is our responsibility to do the things to keep our bodies healthy so that we can experience quality of life.  Having a healthy body requires us to do certain things to maintain optimum health.



Getting the proper nutrition is number one on my list of what to do for a healthy body.  If you are eating processed foods, fast foods, high sugar, high fat foods, you are not making the best choices for your body.  The purpose for eating is to give the body proper nutrition.  Those types of foods do not deliver the best nutrition for your body.  Eating natures foods will help you to get all of the nutrients that you need.  Fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and if you must have them, whole grains are the way to find optimum nutrients.  

Along with proper nutrition, drinking plenty of clear water is a must to maintain a healthy body.  A minimum of 64 ounces a day is recommended. 


Exercise is next on my list of important things to do for your body.  Regular exercise helps to keep your body lean, healthy, younger, less stressed, and happier.  People who exercise regularly can ward off many of the diseases that are effecting our population today.  The top five diseases in our country are caused from life style choices such as smoking and obesity.  We could virtually rid our country of most of its heart disease, diabetes, and fifty percent of all cancers if we would just stop eating "bad" food and began to move our bodies on a daily bases.  Just thirty to sixty minutes a day of exercise will change your life for the better.  Considering that we have 168 hours in a week, and all you need to give to exercise is 3 to 6 hours, it is not that big of a commitment to make when you understand the reward.



Next step to a healthy body is getting enough sleep and rest.  Children require much more than adults, at least 10 hours or more.  An adult should be getting a minimum of seven and preferably eight hours per night.  Taking a twenty to thirty minute nap in the daytime is also a healthy choice.  Sleep is where we recover, rest, and restore ourselves.  Sleep deprivation can cause the same kind of effects as being drunk.  Our bodies do not function at peak performance without enough sleep.


Meditation is another way to help your body to be healthy.  It is scientifically proven to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and help us to feel calm and centered.  All of those things have a physical impact on your body in a positive way.




Your body is your responsibility to care for.  If you are treating it poorly by not exercising and eating unhealthy food, it is your choice.  Choosing daily exercise and healthy food will change your life for the better.  These are choices that need to be made if you want the "body" and the "life" that you desire.


Wishing you Health and Happiness,
Queenie