Obesity issues vs. hunger issues...REALLY!

It was brought to my attention today via The Downey Obesity Report, that as a world more people now die each year from complications due to overeating than that of starving.  Read here if you are interested in learning more.  Obesity Greater Global Crisis Than Hunger  While I am not amazed to learn of this factual information, it does cause an alarm to go off in my head.  How is it that we have many of this world suffering from starvation while now a majority suffering death from the complications of overeating, under exercising and such?

This should make us all step back and take a look at what we do within our own daily routines.  How much food do we purchase, consume, waste etc....Where could healthy changes take place?  Should we downsize our portions?  Eat different types of foods?  Maybe we could donate more to charitable organizations the extra foods we don't need.  On the other side of things, how about becoming more active and less lazy?  Most of us spend too much time sitting or worse yet seeking ways of which we don't have to move.  Thinking about our surroundings, I become quite concerned.  Instead of walking most seek close parking spots, people movers, escalators, elevators, golf carts etc...  I think you get my idea on this subject.  We have become lazy and for some refuse to accept it until something tragic happens.

Most will wake up and change their life style only when something tragic happens.  This is what I call the knee jerk or reactive approach.  Things like being told in a medical check up that he or she has high blood pressure and now has to begin taking not so fun medications that come with nasty side effects.   Worse yet, many will be told they have diabetes and will risk the loss of limbs due to poor circulation.  This too comes with a continual barrage of medications that come with negative consequences.  And too, many will realize while trying to move that things just don't go as well as they once did while wondering where it all went.  Yes, this too is a reactive approach to desiring a change in life.

What I suggest is that we all look to ways in our life of where we can be both proactive and preventative.  After all, for most, walking is quite easy.  Drinking water, not that complicated.  Choosing fruits and vegetables over processed foods, not so tough.  Taking the family to the park or hitting a near by paved walking trail, yes this too does not take much time and effort.  Seems quite obvious, yet so many refuse to take the first small steps.

Living the fit way life does not mean one had to be pure picture perfect.  After all there is nothing that is perfect.  Something we will cover on another day.  However, it is important that we never take what we have for granted.  Obesity is a killer, hunger is a serious issue so let's all wake up and take a good look at where we are headed.  The lives we live do fall on a continuum of wellness and health.  The problem is once one heads in the wrong direction and continues to go there, the turn around sometimes is not possible or becomes quite difficult.  Let's all change this negative trend of obesity and make the turn for the better.  Together we can.....

Sending you my best and wishing you optimal health!

Coach T

www.trainingbytroy.com
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The weather outside can be delightful!

Say it ain't so!  Yes, we just got hit with a foot of snow and for some that means things in life just changed regarding outdoor activity.  What do I mean by this?  I am saying that once the temperature falls below freezing and the snow hits the ground way too many people give up on going outdoors other than grabbing their paper, mail or walking to and from their vehicles.  Sad, but true.

This is the the perfect time of year to mix up ones fitness approach.  No, running to set new 5k PR is not advised at this time but getting out for a good walk or better yet taking up a fresh activity like snow shoeing may be perfect!  Also, let's not forget about our childhood days of when we could not wait to get outdoors for sledding, skating, skiing (both cross country and downhill) in addition to the creation of snow art like snowmen or women if you will.  These activities are perfect opportunities to increase ones level of wellness.  Not only that, but also beneficial to the body due to the fresh air taken in when doing so.

I know, it may take some adjustment so use a wise approach.  Start slow, bring a friend, integrate your family members or do what ever else it takes to make the outdoor experience more fun.  Again, this is a perfect time of year to stay active and better yet, to mix it up.  Excuses to become lazy or inactive during the winter months come with side effects, all of which are known to well in our society.  They come in the form of increased weight gain, loss of muscle mass, higher levels of stress hormones, decreases levels of sleep and the list goes on and on.

So I highly suggest that you be good to yourself and get outdoors.  Be it a brisk walk with a friend, making a snow sculpture with a family member or trying out your first ever pair of snow shoes the rewards are yours to attain!

Wishing you the best in this fine season of winter!  -Coach T

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Remember to Pace Yourself

Happy New Year!

Now is the time of year when most have made up their minds that now is the time to make change. If you fit into this category, I commend you on at least thinking that this is your time for betterment and improvement on what ever it may be. All I ask is that you remember to pace yourself. I have seen failure take place way too many times because of two major reasons. One, people forget to set forth an effective and efficient plan to bring about the desired change. Two, people will fail to control the energy of their efforts and will spring out with a ton of energy like that of a sprint to only run out of gas by the middle of February.....if they are lucky.

Why do I share this not so fun fact? Well, this morning I was reminded again of the not so fun reality of what happens to those that set out without a plan or worse yet without control of the gas pedal or brake in relativity to this matter. While warming up to do my own training session this morning, I saw a woman literally pass out while attempting to perform what seemed to be an easy exercise. After all, who can't do a seated leg curl? Well, this is a woman who obviously had overexerted herself and more than likely thought she was doing the right thing at the time. Do not worry, the emergency medical staff arrived and wheeled her out after she woke up from her fainting experience. Certain she was off to visit with medical staff post her exercise experience.

What's my point in discussing this experience with you. Well, one of the procedures I have my clientele complete is that of filling out a (PAR-Q) form. This form contains a series of questions in relativity to their health history and current physical abilities. Why, because sometimes people are not set out to start exercise programs and are in need approval from their physician. Be it reasons due to high blood pressure, pre-existing heart conditions, lung ailments, bone or joint issues etc....many reasons could exist that would recommend specific people avoid specific activity or more yet avoid some all together. Though the desire and will power may be present, I suggest that one does check in with their physician before setting off for to start an exercise program, especially if you have not been on one for some time. Remember, your success is all about setting forth the right plan and the maintenance of the energy systems needed to reach your goal!

Do set your goal, vision what you desire, move forward and attack that of what you want.... but by all means pace yourself and be sure you are on the right track in doing so!

I wish you well and send you my best!

Troy Eichers "Coach T"
http://www.trainingbytroy.net/
troy@trainingbytroy.net

Are you in it to win it?

In today's time of struggle and world strife, I ask you the question listed here. Are you in it to win it? What I mean by this is are you viewing life only for this day or are you able to step back and see the entire picture. All to often I view my clientele struggling to see the big picture. It is easy for us human beings to find routine and comfortable patterns in our daily behaviors but this is not always a good thing. If you have read one of my favorite books by the author Dr. Spencer Johson, "Who Moved My Cheese?" High highly recommend that you do. You will find yourself fitting somewhere within this easy to read book as it portrays the reasons why some people will change and can find happiness while others refuse to change and therefore become stuck and remain unhappy.

With our economic struggles and related issues that come with it, we must step back and realize those things that mean more to us than ever before. We can either choose to change our focus or we can choose to live in this current moment and panic while feeling the information of fear that surrounds us. Don't get me wrong, I truly believe we are living in tough times, but I do believe history has taught us that this is only a point in time and that the future will get better, if we move with it that is.

Ask yourself what you value most in life. Seriously do this and make a list of your answers. Did you do this? If not, do so now. List the top four to six values you have in your head right now. Was the first one your 401k savings account? I am guessing not the case. Was the second on your list your house? Third your car? Fourth your boat? You probably see where I am going with this. We value things in life most like health, family, friends, spiritual beliefs, free time and so forth. So I ask you, where do you spend most of your time and resource regarding the things on your list? As of late, many who I have been in contact with are struggling with the endless negative reports we are bombarded with via the media which surrounds us. I advise my friends, family and clientele to turn it off or to better yet take time to decipher what is true and what is just negative chatter about nothing. It is not easy action to take for it can be quite difficult to turn off the television, computer screen or blackberry if you will. These things are deeply engrained within us. We are creatures of habit and sometimes those habits are not helpful or good.

My point is if we truly value our health, family, friends, free time etc. Now is a great time to refocus upon those things. As a health professional, managing stress with physical activity is worth its time in gold. Spending time with family members and developing stronger relationships with your loved ones is priceless too. Even sharing a little talk time with friends you have not communicated with for awhile you may find uplifting and energizing. Now would be a great time to do this for they too probably could use a boost. After all the holiday season is approaching soon!

The bottom line is this. We have a life to live. We have many choices to make each day we have life. Be more keen with your personal vision and where you spend time in it. Remove yourself from the every day endless hum drum filled with negative chatter and spend more time and energy seeing the big picture. Odds are you will become a happier person and will enjoy the time you have much more than if you stay with the current focus you have today.

Do your best and remember that you have one life, one body and it is your choice to live the life you choose!


Troy D. Eichers "Coach T"
www.trainingbytroy.net

Season's of Change!

Hello and Happy November!



As you turn back the clocks and begin this new month, I hope that you find yourself prepared for the winter months ahead. Be it that I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I know that I have obstacles ahead regarding my own training program in my attempt to maintain my level of fitness and wellness. Many of you know what I am talking about. The days are now shorter, the temperatures lower and soon there will be white precipitation falling from the skies. In addition to this, we have a very elongated holiday season that brings with it negative health tendencies of making poor nutritional choices and sitting for endless hours watching weekend after weekend of football. OK, maybe this does not fit you but as I look around this is the case for many.



We in the Midwest love our spring, summer and fall seasons but most of us would rather due without winter. The long commutes, back breaking shoveling of snow, school closings, salt on our cars, well you get the picture. It is part of the year and for some of us, we just fail to put in a plan to prepare for this. On top of this, it is this time of year that seasonal mood affective disorder increases and where levels of activity drop too. Don't get me wrong, I love the seasonal foods that come out at this time of year, but I too have to put in a plan to stay the course.



So, what is my point you may ask. My point is that you should take some time to develop a plan to deal with the duress that comes with the up and coming winter season. Put in place a proactive plan that allows for the longer commutes, school cancellations, holiday parties, snow removal, fattening food offerings from your friends and family. You can do this by putting into play time set aside for going to the gym to attend a workout class, hiking, walking, shoveling, sledding. You can write out your goals for how you would like to choose certain foods and how you will prepare yourself ahead of time before heading to the holiday's parties that will be offering up vast amounts of food and alcohol. On that note, don't forget to have a designated driver or safe ride arranged for you. Thought I would add that too. Plans like these are designed to keep you healthy and happier too for that matter.



If you fail to this road and wonder aimlessly through another winter. I would probably bet that you like many others will be starting off 2009 with a new diet and fitness plan. You will probably also step on the scale and approach the mirror with the words....."how the heck did I gain this many pounds?" Well, how about taking a proactive approach and not becoming one of those people. After all, what did it take for you to attain your fitness goals in 2008? Get a head start and make the most of the next four months. You will be happy that you did.



After all, it would be hard to hibernate for the next four months and not take part in the Midwest winter of 2008!



I wish you the best and hope that you too are healthy, happy and well.

Coach T
One Life, One Body, Your Choice
www.trainingbytroy.net

Small steps can lead to large strides!

Why is it that those with great can do or "glass half full" attitudes seem to always fall on the lucky side of things in life? Is it because they are more fortunate? Or, maybe it is because they are more willing to face the fact that they can control that of only one thing in the battles they face? Truth be told, a person can only control one factor in each situation or dilemma if you will and that is their attitude.

You know what I am talking about. We all have those people in our lives that seem to bring with them great energy and optimism. These are the people that attract others to them. Then, we know those people that have around them a dark cloud or haze of negativity and pessimism. You like me, probably avoid or prepare yourself to have interaction with this type at certain points in your day. Ughhh!

Scientific studies have shown that we as human beings throw off different amounts of measurable energy and this is heavily related on ones level of health or wellness if you will. Those with a great mindset, circulatory ability and overall balance in life will emit huge energy fields. You may have felt this before when sitting in a room as you watch someone enter and you can actually feel the energy level increase or pick up! The other may have been felt when you walk past some one and you actually become chilled as you feel like someone zapped you from your own energy. Yep, this is what I am talking about.

So, I ask you. What is your mind set? How well does your body circulate its own energy? Do you light up a room or steal from those around you? What is it that you really want? Can you take control of your own attitude and are you willing to do the things in life that breed optimism and increased chance of helping others more than hurting?

I know, you are probably asking how do I go about doing this. Well, one simple way is taking time to think about what may be heavy or negatively impacting your own life. My parents once said, "Troy, you are what you surround yourself with, especially when it comes to the friends you choose to hang out with." Oh how true this is! Make sure to start by surrounding yourself with people who lift and build you up or at a minimum do not zap your energy and bring you down. Furthermore, create more internal energy by moving more. Energy is always easier to keep in motion once it has started moving. Today, we sit too long and move to little. Walk more, sit less and the ball will start to head in the right direction. Drink more water and consume less sugar! Our bodies are made up of 70% of water. Each cell depends upon it! When we are low on water our cellular functioning is less than optimal. Water makes the body work more effectively and efficiently. Eat more frequent smaller portion meals. Yep, metabolism increases when you do this. Again, I come back to the energy levels, you will be amazed at how this changes ones feelings about life.

In summary, I remind you to be a positive influence to those that you come in contact with. No one wants to be the downer or energy deleter of the room. Increase your energy and lift those around you up!

Move more, eat clean, stay hydrated and surround yourself with positive people. These things will keep you moving in the right direction when it comes to living life.

After all, you have one life, one body and you have choices to make!

My best to you!

Coach T