Guide to the Better you

  When you think of a typical older person, one thing likely comes to mind:   frailty .   Even if you can’t really identify any obvious illness, there is something about most elderly people that communicates frailty and weakness.   They probably walk slowly, move carefully and let others do many things for them, rather than doing those things themselves.   What is it?   It’s muscle loss, otherwise known as sarcopenia.   And if you are 25 years old or older, it is happening to you already. But you don’t have to take it sitting down (pun intended). What is sarcopenia? Sarcopenia refers to the process of losing skeletal muscle mass and strength.   “Sarco” is the Greek word referring to flesh, and “penia” means a reduction in amount.   Thus, the word describes a progressive weakening of the body caused by a “ change in body compensation in favor of fat and at the expense of muscle .” 1 Everyone, beginning around age 25, starts to lose muscle mass, though the actual symptoms of

  It’s that time of year again:   tax season.   If you are like many people, you feel increased stress around April 18.   Tensions can run high from the pressure of getting the forms filed on time or coming up with the funds to pay your (hopefully not too big) tax bill.   But you owe it to yourself to keep your stress under control as much as possible.   When your body is subjected to ongoing stress, unhealthy changes occur at the chemical level, and these changes can lead to food cravings and weight gain. How does your body react to stress? When you experience stress, your body releases a hormone called cortisol.   In small amounts, cortisol does not present a problem.   But when the stress is chronic, such as during the weeks surrounding tax season, the concentration of cortisol in your body stays elevated with undesirable results.   For example, you will crave foods that will give you quick energy, such as candy bars and potato chips.   And the presence of cortisol will ca

  The warm breezes of spring mean that Easter is around the corner!   After the heavy colors of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine’s Day, the bright, cheerful colors of spring are a welcome sight.   But the cheerful colors are not limited to flowers and eggs.   There is no escaping the onslaught of sugar that threatens us at every turn.   From jelly beans to chocolate bunnies, empty calories abound. You need a plan. First, the facts I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you really do need to know what you are getting yourself into when you reach for that fluffy, yellow peep.   Brace yourself, this is going to hurt… Sugar is really bad for you. When you consume Easter candy, you are getting a large dose of sugar.   Whether it is in the form of High Fructose Corn Syrup or cane sugar, it slams into your system like a bowling ball, and the effects are disastrous. Within the first 20 minutes or so, your blood sugar level spikes as the sugar enters your bloodstream. It arri

  Spring is a time of new beginnings.   As the world wakes up from its long sleep, our minds feel energized, refreshed and ready to celebrate.   Does your body feel the same way?   If you haven’t been working consistently on your fitness and health this winter, your body may be struggling to keep up with your mind. It’s hard to make a new start when you feel sluggish and discouraged. That’s why I exist:   to help you move from reality to your dream.   If you have tried and failed at fitness, then you likely feel too paralyzed to try again. Motivating people to get healthy, however, is what I do best.   But you have to let me help you!   Let’s get started. A quick look back    We are going to focus mainly on what is ahead for you; the past is the past and it is best to leave it there.   However, in order to make the best start, we need to take a look at what may have sabotaged your previous efforts to get in shape ·          Impatience .   Because we live in a society that is