I've failed at P90X2. The first phase started off, but I had a hard time doing the majority of the moves. I know Tony Horton says, "Don't say I can't, but I currently struggle with". So I was currently struggling with most of the moves. Balancing on med balls, etc. Ugh.
Then after a 10 day vacation with my family where I did yoga x2 and tons of walking (Disney) I came back and tried to start phase 2. Even worse. And this frustration led to my not getting a good workout in, and anticipating the frustration not even wanting to workout and skipping a few.
So I took a step back and honestly evaluated it all. As much as my ego didn't want to admit it, I wasn't ready for P90X2.
So I had to swallow my pride and regroup.
I've restrarted P90X as of yesterday and it was the right thing to do. The moves were familiar (Chest and Back yesterday, Plyo today) so I actually got a good workout in. Personal best for push ups, an amazing sweat for Plyo.
So stepping back I am actually moving forward. Several friends on Facebook and Twitter said I didn't "fail" because it is such a negative word. But I did. I failed at P90X2. Failed for now. But come 90 days from now..... Lesson learned.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Supplements, etc.
Right now there is a big discussion in my household about supplements.
Generally, most people think of supplements as the vitamins people take once a day. A multivitamin is a good place to start, since no matter how conscientiously we may vary our diets and eat plenty of fresh healthy fruits and vegetables, we are probably not getting our recommended daily allowance of everything. Add to that the depletion of the nutrients in soil lessening the vitamin and mineral content in our food and one can certainly argue that at the minimum a multivitamin is a good place to start.
Others swear by using things like Fish Oils to aid in digestion and vitamin/mineral absorption, or higher doses of vitamin C to strengthen the immune system. An extra dose of zinc is believed to help relieve the severity of a cold, and there are a variety of recommended other supplements for joint health, prostate health, eye health, etc. And of course, one cannot evaluate all of this without the standard disclaimer that these statements are not approved by the FDA.
One shameless plug is for the wonderful whole food multivitamin effect of the Beachbody Product, Shakeology (see the icon on the page to click for more information). 70 ingredients in the making, this can be used as a very healthy snack or combined with juice or milk as a meal replacement. This would take the place of a multivitamin, and then some!
But in our household my 15 year old son is trying not to lose weight and get into shape (he is quite thin and VERY fit), but wants to gain muscle mass. To do this one much add larger amounts of protein to the diet. This is accomplished in several ways, including extra food protein sources at meals and snacks such as tuna, hard-boiled eggs, and meat. The other option is to supplement with a protein powder, generally a whey protein.
Be careful when shopping for this product. Many of them are full of artificial flavorings and sweeteners - something you don't want or need to put into your body. You are best to look for one that is 100% protein powder. You can drink it with water or mix it with milk, juice, or even added to recipes (I am told...I have never seen it done).
Right now the big discussion in our house is on the use of Creatine.
Bodybuilding.com says of Creatine
"Creatine works by saturating your muscles with a high-energy compound called creatine phosphate, and it can be used by the body as an immediate energy supply when you need to push out those last few reps in the gym.* Creatine also hydrates muscle cells with water, promoting muscle fiber growth." http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/creatine.html
It is a naturally occuring amino acid in your body, and the supplement form comes from sources such as beef.
Our concern is whether there are side effects that can be a hazard to our son's health.
Men's Health Magazine reports,
"Creatine is one of the most-researched sports supplements out there," Kerksick says. "And there's no published literature to suggest it's unsafe."
Greenhaff has been studying creatine for about two decades, and says he never encounters the cramping that is sometimes reported. "I'm not saying people don't experience cramps, but I don't believe it can be very common," he says. "If there were any major adverse side effects, we would have seen them by now."
But there have been anecdotal reports of kidney damage, heart problems, muscle cramps and pulls, dehydration, and diarrhea, in addition to other negative side effects. The key word here: anecdotal.
http://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/creatine-side-effects-what-it-what-it-does
So the Creatine has entered the Kelly household, but with a family vacation starting in a few weeks we have decided our son should hold off a few weeks just in case he does have some stomach cramping. We don't want that on the trip!
There are certainly plenty of other supplements out on the market. DO YOUR RESEARCH before putting anything into your body. And don't just take the word of your buddy at the gym.
You are getting fit and healthy, one doesn't want a pharmacopia interfering with that goal!
Generally, most people think of supplements as the vitamins people take once a day. A multivitamin is a good place to start, since no matter how conscientiously we may vary our diets and eat plenty of fresh healthy fruits and vegetables, we are probably not getting our recommended daily allowance of everything. Add to that the depletion of the nutrients in soil lessening the vitamin and mineral content in our food and one can certainly argue that at the minimum a multivitamin is a good place to start.
Others swear by using things like Fish Oils to aid in digestion and vitamin/mineral absorption, or higher doses of vitamin C to strengthen the immune system. An extra dose of zinc is believed to help relieve the severity of a cold, and there are a variety of recommended other supplements for joint health, prostate health, eye health, etc. And of course, one cannot evaluate all of this without the standard disclaimer that these statements are not approved by the FDA.
One shameless plug is for the wonderful whole food multivitamin effect of the Beachbody Product, Shakeology (see the icon on the page to click for more information). 70 ingredients in the making, this can be used as a very healthy snack or combined with juice or milk as a meal replacement. This would take the place of a multivitamin, and then some!
But in our household my 15 year old son is trying not to lose weight and get into shape (he is quite thin and VERY fit), but wants to gain muscle mass. To do this one much add larger amounts of protein to the diet. This is accomplished in several ways, including extra food protein sources at meals and snacks such as tuna, hard-boiled eggs, and meat. The other option is to supplement with a protein powder, generally a whey protein.
Be careful when shopping for this product. Many of them are full of artificial flavorings and sweeteners - something you don't want or need to put into your body. You are best to look for one that is 100% protein powder. You can drink it with water or mix it with milk, juice, or even added to recipes (I am told...I have never seen it done).
Right now the big discussion in our house is on the use of Creatine.
Bodybuilding.com says of Creatine
"Creatine works by saturating your muscles with a high-energy compound called creatine phosphate, and it can be used by the body as an immediate energy supply when you need to push out those last few reps in the gym.* Creatine also hydrates muscle cells with water, promoting muscle fiber growth." http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/creatine.html
It is a naturally occuring amino acid in your body, and the supplement form comes from sources such as beef.
Our concern is whether there are side effects that can be a hazard to our son's health.
Men's Health Magazine reports,
"Creatine is one of the most-researched sports supplements out there," Kerksick says. "And there's no published literature to suggest it's unsafe."
Greenhaff has been studying creatine for about two decades, and says he never encounters the cramping that is sometimes reported. "I'm not saying people don't experience cramps, but I don't believe it can be very common," he says. "If there were any major adverse side effects, we would have seen them by now."
But there have been anecdotal reports of kidney damage, heart problems, muscle cramps and pulls, dehydration, and diarrhea, in addition to other negative side effects. The key word here: anecdotal.
http://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/creatine-side-effects-what-it-what-it-does
So the Creatine has entered the Kelly household, but with a family vacation starting in a few weeks we have decided our son should hold off a few weeks just in case he does have some stomach cramping. We don't want that on the trip!
There are certainly plenty of other supplements out on the market. DO YOUR RESEARCH before putting anything into your body. And don't just take the word of your buddy at the gym.
You are getting fit and healthy, one doesn't want a pharmacopia interfering with that goal!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Happy New Years!
Of course new year brings with it resolutions.
My resolutions rarely change - get fit, eat better, drink more water, become a saint. The usual things.
Started P90X2 and so far it is a butt-kicker!
P90X2 Phase 1 is different from Phase I of P90X. Where as there are days of upper body and days of plyo or lower body (with that annoying YogaX in there on Thursdays), so far the workouts Monday and Thursday have been more mid- and total body. Monday was a core workout with push ups, etc.. Today was Total Body, which included balance/core work and some lifting too. Both workouts had some legs in it too. Seeing more Shaun T. of Insanity type moves. Lots of combinations like balancing in a Warrior 3 position while doing curls.
Tuesday is still Plyo day, this one called Plyocide. Honestly, I didn't think it was as hard as PlyoX, but different. I really appreciated the LONG stretch at the end of it.
Now on Fridays is Yoga day - I will let you know how that goes. It is supposedly only 60 minutes long instead of the insane 92 minute workout in P90X.
Wednesday was scheduled as a mid-week day off, or a recovery and balance workout. My wife and son did the workout and said it was a lot of great stretching. I will do it on my rest day Sunday.
Haven't done the Ab workout yet. First one was scheduled for today after total body, but ran out of time in the AM, so I did an great ab workout at the gym at lunchtime.
The other interesting thing about P90X2 compared to P90X is the equipment. There is the foam roller for stretching (not sure if I like this yet) and large stability ball and smaller medicine balls. I don't have a great core yet, and the stability ball is a particular challenge. I modify, and before long I will be doing it better, (God willing).
So, there it is for now. I am sore right now as I type this, as I would expect to be in the first week of a new program. CONTACT ME stjohnspriest@gmail.com if you want information or have questions on either workout (or any other workout by Beachbody).
My resolutions rarely change - get fit, eat better, drink more water, become a saint. The usual things.
Started P90X2 and so far it is a butt-kicker!
P90X2 Phase 1 is different from Phase I of P90X. Where as there are days of upper body and days of plyo or lower body (with that annoying YogaX in there on Thursdays), so far the workouts Monday and Thursday have been more mid- and total body. Monday was a core workout with push ups, etc.. Today was Total Body, which included balance/core work and some lifting too. Both workouts had some legs in it too. Seeing more Shaun T. of Insanity type moves. Lots of combinations like balancing in a Warrior 3 position while doing curls.
Tuesday is still Plyo day, this one called Plyocide. Honestly, I didn't think it was as hard as PlyoX, but different. I really appreciated the LONG stretch at the end of it.
Now on Fridays is Yoga day - I will let you know how that goes. It is supposedly only 60 minutes long instead of the insane 92 minute workout in P90X.
Wednesday was scheduled as a mid-week day off, or a recovery and balance workout. My wife and son did the workout and said it was a lot of great stretching. I will do it on my rest day Sunday.
Haven't done the Ab workout yet. First one was scheduled for today after total body, but ran out of time in the AM, so I did an great ab workout at the gym at lunchtime.
The other interesting thing about P90X2 compared to P90X is the equipment. There is the foam roller for stretching (not sure if I like this yet) and large stability ball and smaller medicine balls. I don't have a great core yet, and the stability ball is a particular challenge. I modify, and before long I will be doing it better, (God willing).
So, there it is for now. I am sore right now as I type this, as I would expect to be in the first week of a new program. CONTACT ME stjohnspriest@gmail.com if you want information or have questions on either workout (or any other workout by Beachbody).
Friday, December 23, 2011
Self-evaluation
So the year is nearly over, and of course one looks back over the year past.
How have we done?
Personally, concerning fitness, I am breaking it down by month.
Mid-July began again in earnest. Began working with a support group to help with eating.
Doing INSANITY workout.
August - weight dropping off, eating great, INSANITY workouts.
September - first two weeks - INSANITY and great eating, then...
Three week trip to West Coast. Great eating and pretty good working out, even on the cruise.
October - began P90X again. Wow, what a butt kicker! eating good, not great. weight loss begins to plateau
November - good work, decent eating too.
December - Blah. But weight maintained.
So......today is a new day. What expectations for now til January? And of course the new year brings P90X2.
BRING IT
How have we done?
Personally, concerning fitness, I am breaking it down by month.
Mid-July began again in earnest. Began working with a support group to help with eating.
Doing INSANITY workout.
August - weight dropping off, eating great, INSANITY workouts.
September - first two weeks - INSANITY and great eating, then...
Three week trip to West Coast. Great eating and pretty good working out, even on the cruise.
October - began P90X again. Wow, what a butt kicker! eating good, not great. weight loss begins to plateau
November - good work, decent eating too.
December - Blah. But weight maintained.
So......today is a new day. What expectations for now til January? And of course the new year brings P90X2.
BRING IT
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Nothing like a cold...
....to knock you off track.
Actually, I can't completely blame the virus for my slow down last week. It was a combination of TOO BUSY with family and work and feeling BLAH with a cold.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday were spent with a stuffed up head and feeling blah. Had lots of busy family things to do and the last thing I wanted to do was workout.
Monday morning I slept in, hoping to knock down the virus even further, having started to feel better by Sunday evening.
But Monday evening I decided that, even though I wasn't feeling 100%, I was going to get back in the swing. I ROCKED out the Chest and Back workout, getting personal bests on nearly all push ups and pull ups.
And this morning I was back in the swing, getting up early enough to get my PlyoX workout in, which I relished with extra strength and vigor.
The jury is out about working out when sick. Some like to "push through". Others like to nurse the cold a bit and then get back into the swing of things. You know best what is best. A common cold is one thing, but something worse like Flu or Strep would call for more rest than activity.
So anyway, pushing through and feeling good (albeit a bit sore). Now if can get my nose to stop running......
Actually, I can't completely blame the virus for my slow down last week. It was a combination of TOO BUSY with family and work and feeling BLAH with a cold.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday were spent with a stuffed up head and feeling blah. Had lots of busy family things to do and the last thing I wanted to do was workout.
Monday morning I slept in, hoping to knock down the virus even further, having started to feel better by Sunday evening.
But Monday evening I decided that, even though I wasn't feeling 100%, I was going to get back in the swing. I ROCKED out the Chest and Back workout, getting personal bests on nearly all push ups and pull ups.
And this morning I was back in the swing, getting up early enough to get my PlyoX workout in, which I relished with extra strength and vigor.
The jury is out about working out when sick. Some like to "push through". Others like to nurse the cold a bit and then get back into the swing of things. You know best what is best. A common cold is one thing, but something worse like Flu or Strep would call for more rest than activity.
So anyway, pushing through and feeling good (albeit a bit sore). Now if can get my nose to stop running......
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Phase III Malaise
I have reached, once again, Phase III of P90X and I have come to a familiar malaise, that general feeling of discomfort or uneasiness. The last few times I have slogged through P90X by the time I get within a few weeks of finishing I get bogged down. I would think I would be psyched that the completion is near, but instead I tend to find it harder to focus and harder to motivate myself to push harder.
This time IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT. Now that I have identified it and called it out I AM GOING TO WORK through it! P90X2 should arrive in the mail any day, which should be a good external motivator since that will be kicking my butt starting in January.
So time to get off the computer and on with the rest of the important things I need to do today.
This time IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT. Now that I have identified it and called it out I AM GOING TO WORK through it! P90X2 should arrive in the mail any day, which should be a good external motivator since that will be kicking my butt starting in January.
So time to get off the computer and on with the rest of the important things I need to do today.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Gearing up for the thanksgiving holiday
Thanksgiving is just a few days away. For me and my family the Turkey dinner comes second, after a hectic morning at my Church. America's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit passes in front of our Church and we serve a Pancake breakfast from 6:30 to 9:30am in the basement, and hot chocolate/coffee and donuts out the front door to parade goers, and of course enjoy the festivities ourselves. But it is a hectic morning prepping the kitchen and then I walk the parade viewing area for a few blocks up and down from the Church promoting the breakfast and the enticing 'warm bathrooms'. Hundreds of people eat breakfast or donuts, and even more stop in to warm up and see our amazing church building .
Since I am a lower carb guy I will be avoiding the pancakes and will instead slip in a few eggs for breakfast before the crowds show up. After the parade and clean up (about 11:30) we will head across state 2.5 hours for the turkey dinner with all the fixings at my in-law's house.
But the holiday can be a land-mine if one is not careful about what one puts on their plate and in their mouths! For those who are already fit Thanksgiving can be a splurge day. Good for you. I am not there yet. I have made avoiding desserts (other than fresh fruit) a good habit. But the rest of the thanksgiving meal can be a real hazard.
Turkey- yum... Will eat in moderation of course.
Potatoes - white starch with little redeeming nutritional value. Mashed adds fats. (but sweet potatoes have nutritious value)
Stuffing - white starch with even less redeeming value.
Gravy - starch, fat....
Rolls - white starch.
Salad - good (with a small amount of dressing)
Cranberries - if the real thing this is a good thing. Canned? blah.
Veggies - Yum.
So you see what my plate will primarily consist of - turkey, veggies, cranberries, and salad. But hey, love all those things!
Most importantly Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for all God's blessings. And increasing health and fitness is a blessing to me!
Enjoy your family, enjoy your meal. But there is no need to be a glutton about it. Be smart and even if you fail at that, start again at eating right!
And of course, through it all, keep working out!!!!
Since I am a lower carb guy I will be avoiding the pancakes and will instead slip in a few eggs for breakfast before the crowds show up. After the parade and clean up (about 11:30) we will head across state 2.5 hours for the turkey dinner with all the fixings at my in-law's house.
But the holiday can be a land-mine if one is not careful about what one puts on their plate and in their mouths! For those who are already fit Thanksgiving can be a splurge day. Good for you. I am not there yet. I have made avoiding desserts (other than fresh fruit) a good habit. But the rest of the thanksgiving meal can be a real hazard.
Turkey- yum... Will eat in moderation of course.
Potatoes - white starch with little redeeming nutritional value. Mashed adds fats. (but sweet potatoes have nutritious value)
Stuffing - white starch with even less redeeming value.
Gravy - starch, fat....
Rolls - white starch.
Salad - good (with a small amount of dressing)
Cranberries - if the real thing this is a good thing. Canned? blah.
Veggies - Yum.
So you see what my plate will primarily consist of - turkey, veggies, cranberries, and salad. But hey, love all those things!
Most importantly Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for all God's blessings. And increasing health and fitness is a blessing to me!
Enjoy your family, enjoy your meal. But there is no need to be a glutton about it. Be smart and even if you fail at that, start again at eating right!
And of course, through it all, keep working out!!!!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Change of scenery
This morning I just didn't want to work out. I know that getting the workout done first thing in the morning is so much better for me. Not only do I personally feel I am most effective at that hour, but I am more likely to get it done if I do it right away. On days that I don't work out right away I spend all day trying to figure out when to fit it in, and sometimes the day just gets away from me.
With Jennifer also doing a beachbody workout (Insanity again) it means I either have to get up earlier to workout in the basement and be done before she gets up, or we work out on different floors. Working out at the same time is easy enough if I am doing Plyometrics, Yoga, or even Chest & Back or Legs & Back. I put the DVD in the computer in the kitchen eating area and either get to work in the kitchen or family room. Other routines, requiring weights, are not as convenient to drag all the dumbbells up the stairs (the pull up bar is at the bottom of the basement stairs and I can dash up and down to use it during the workout).
This morning I just didn't want to drag the weights upstairs since Jennifer got a head start and was downstairs. But I packed my gym bag and after the 12:15 Mass, on my 'lunch break", I dashed over the my local "athletic club" with the Back and Biceps worksheet I had printed off the Team Beachbody website.
Doing it at the gym gave me two advantages today. One, I worked out with someone, an acquaintance from the club I know. He was there and we were able to push each other a bit. But also being there I was able to push up my weights and do fewer reps but with more poundage, and that felt really great! I really need to get sets of 30 and 35 pound dumbbells.
So today's change of scenery was a good thing for me. Sore in newer ways, including some sore hands because the chin-up bar is not padded! But for the most part I hope to stick with workout out in the morning so I am not taking time away from other things during the day.
With Jennifer also doing a beachbody workout (Insanity again) it means I either have to get up earlier to workout in the basement and be done before she gets up, or we work out on different floors. Working out at the same time is easy enough if I am doing Plyometrics, Yoga, or even Chest & Back or Legs & Back. I put the DVD in the computer in the kitchen eating area and either get to work in the kitchen or family room. Other routines, requiring weights, are not as convenient to drag all the dumbbells up the stairs (the pull up bar is at the bottom of the basement stairs and I can dash up and down to use it during the workout).
This morning I just didn't want to drag the weights upstairs since Jennifer got a head start and was downstairs. But I packed my gym bag and after the 12:15 Mass, on my 'lunch break", I dashed over the my local "athletic club" with the Back and Biceps worksheet I had printed off the Team Beachbody website.
Doing it at the gym gave me two advantages today. One, I worked out with someone, an acquaintance from the club I know. He was there and we were able to push each other a bit. But also being there I was able to push up my weights and do fewer reps but with more poundage, and that felt really great! I really need to get sets of 30 and 35 pound dumbbells.
So today's change of scenery was a good thing for me. Sore in newer ways, including some sore hands because the chin-up bar is not padded! But for the most part I hope to stick with workout out in the morning so I am not taking time away from other things during the day.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Motivation, and working out with others....
P90X, and all the Beachbody products, are programs on DVD. The intention is that people can workout at home and that is the attraction. Going to a gym can be intimidating. Everyone else seems to be in much better shape there (Planet Fitness certainly has tapped into a rich vein with their policy of no grunting, muscle heads, etc.), and of course one had to actually get up, get dressed and GO to the gym. Working out at home eliminates the excuse of having to get out to the gym.
Not that working out at home isn't without its hazards. One of our basement light fixtures is missing a globe because one son hit it while working out. Some workouts are better done upstairs because with all the jumping the ceiling in the basement is low. . And of course, the same lack of motivation that keeps you from going out to the gym can also keep you from putting in the DVD and pushing play!
In my house, sometimes the big problem is that with 4 of us doing two different Beachbody programs and at different days/phases sometimes we end up having to wait and schedule around each other to use the DVD player. Some mornings we have one working out in the basement, and another working out in the kitchen playing the DVD on the computer.
Results can be a great motivator, and having so many of us in the house doing these workouts also motivates. "What workout did you do?" "How was it today?" are ways we keep each other pushing play (not to mention comparing aches and soreness in the evening). And others find motivation with the Beachbody on-line community on Team Beachbody and through Twitter and Facebook.
Today, in a few minutes after my wife finishes her INSANITY workout, I am going to be doing something I have never done. I am working out, P90X legs and back, with my 15 year old son. The DVD is enough pain. Should be interesting to see this young, fit, black belt do circles around this still getting in shape 45 year old! Wish me luck!
Not that working out at home isn't without its hazards. One of our basement light fixtures is missing a globe because one son hit it while working out. Some workouts are better done upstairs because with all the jumping the ceiling in the basement is low. . And of course, the same lack of motivation that keeps you from going out to the gym can also keep you from putting in the DVD and pushing play!
In my house, sometimes the big problem is that with 4 of us doing two different Beachbody programs and at different days/phases sometimes we end up having to wait and schedule around each other to use the DVD player. Some mornings we have one working out in the basement, and another working out in the kitchen playing the DVD on the computer.
Results can be a great motivator, and having so many of us in the house doing these workouts also motivates. "What workout did you do?" "How was it today?" are ways we keep each other pushing play (not to mention comparing aches and soreness in the evening). And others find motivation with the Beachbody on-line community on Team Beachbody and through Twitter and Facebook.
Today, in a few minutes after my wife finishes her INSANITY workout, I am going to be doing something I have never done. I am working out, P90X legs and back, with my 15 year old son. The DVD is enough pain. Should be interesting to see this young, fit, black belt do circles around this still getting in shape 45 year old! Wish me luck!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Government help to end the trend?
Our local paper, The Detroit Free Press, has an article today about how the government is considering various approaches to ending the trend of obesity. This includes school breakfast/lunch program changes, taxes on soft drinks, and requiring posting calories/fat content at fast food outlets (we saw this last one at work in California, and influenced my sons' choices at our very RARE visit to a fast food joint, while on vacation). But I think ultimately it is about personal responsibility!
Those who want to be healthy must make healthy choices. And I am not sure I agree that the government could decide what is a 'healthy' choice with all the food industry lobbyists doing their best to influence decisions. The Free Press article writes of a healthy breakfast at a local school of wheat bagels, juice and milk....all high sugar/starch choices, with NO PROTEIN. A meal like this has a high glycemic impact which means the kids get a sugar buzz first hour of school, sleepy afterwards from the crash. I remember those days in boarding school when had waffles or pancakes. Hyper students first hour from the starches and sugary syrup, napping in second hour class. Breakfast in the Kelly household this morning? 2 scrambled eggs with about 2 cups of veggies each or organic oatmeal with cinnamon and vanilla /no sugar (lower protein in this one, but the boys will follow with a snack of nuts later in the morning).
So perhaps the question is whether government can influence health choices? Perhaps, but ultimately those who want to make poor choices will do so. Those who want to make better choices will go out of the way to do so. Making sure government doesn't interfere with being able to make good choices might also be a part of the challenge. For adults perhaps it will be business requiring fitness for health insurance coverage. In the schools offering ONLY healthier school lunches, removing soft drink machines and the like, and increased gym would go a long way. Ultimately it is about a society creating a culture of fitness one person at a time.
http://www.freep.com/article/20111024/NEWS06/110240375/As-obesity-soars-state-looks-pop-tax-fitness-push-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE
Those who want to be healthy must make healthy choices. And I am not sure I agree that the government could decide what is a 'healthy' choice with all the food industry lobbyists doing their best to influence decisions. The Free Press article writes of a healthy breakfast at a local school of wheat bagels, juice and milk....all high sugar/starch choices, with NO PROTEIN. A meal like this has a high glycemic impact which means the kids get a sugar buzz first hour of school, sleepy afterwards from the crash. I remember those days in boarding school when had waffles or pancakes. Hyper students first hour from the starches and sugary syrup, napping in second hour class. Breakfast in the Kelly household this morning? 2 scrambled eggs with about 2 cups of veggies each or organic oatmeal with cinnamon and vanilla /no sugar (lower protein in this one, but the boys will follow with a snack of nuts later in the morning).
So perhaps the question is whether government can influence health choices? Perhaps, but ultimately those who want to make poor choices will do so. Those who want to make better choices will go out of the way to do so. Making sure government doesn't interfere with being able to make good choices might also be a part of the challenge. For adults perhaps it will be business requiring fitness for health insurance coverage. In the schools offering ONLY healthier school lunches, removing soft drink machines and the like, and increased gym would go a long way. Ultimately it is about a society creating a culture of fitness one person at a time.
http://www.freep.com/article/20111024/NEWS06/110240375/As-obesity-soars-state-looks-pop-tax-fitness-push-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE
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