© Jacquelyn Johnston, M.Ed.
When were you last in front of a buffet table? With New Year festivities just round the corner many of us will find ourselves in front of one—a groaning one.
If you’re ringing in the New Year at a restaurant, chances are there will be enough food to feed an army. As you survey the mouth-watering displays think “sugars”. How many of these dishes—even the savoury ones—have added sugars? How many are re-heated versions of packaged appetizers? Then there’s the dessert table: I often wonder who thought up the portion sizes: after a full meal a one-eighth-sized piece of apple pie topped with ice cream could mean an extra 600-calorie load on your pancreas. Do you know what that means? (If not, feel free to call me). Hint: it begins with a “D”.
And before you cry “Kill-joy!” consider the amount of food people pile on at buffets. It’s no wonder there’s a worldwide Diabesity epidemic—a dangerous percentage of obese people who also have diabetes—or an overwhelming number of people who have pre-diabetes and don’t know it. Could you be one of them, by any chance?
Look at the proteins: steaks, roasts, slabs of salmon (farmed or wild?) . You actually don’t need any more than what could fit on your palm: a deck of cards is usually cited as the correct amount, but people come in different sizes. Then carbs: how many of those rolls are made of white flour? Enriched, no doubt—which means they have been stripped of all the good nutrients and had some added afterwards. What about the white flour content of the pasta, the cakes and the pie crusts? The speed at which these white ingredients convert into sugar is a story in itself. We’ll talk about the glycemic index in another blog.
Move over to the salads. If slathered with dressing they add another load while the pancreas screams “Enough!” Then we have the bread sticks, the croutons, and the bacon bits. Let’s move over to the dessert table: you won’t see it, but I’ll bet most of the offerings are made with white sugar: the meringues, the tarts, the colourful cakes, and—oh dear—the icing on the petits fours. All of these items magnificently colourful and attractive items are displayed in gorgeously uniform geometric shapes, row after row of Diabesity-inducing attractions. More work for the pancreas, and if it gets too tired, passed on to the liver. Then the kidneys, and the heart.
As you approach the groaning tables consider this: what are you looking for? What your body needs or what they eye wants. In 2006 the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution declaring diabetes an international public health issue, only the second after HIV/AIDS to attain that unenviable status. As you approach the buffet table ask yourself of you want to be part of that global epidemic.
In the right-hand column you will see an offer for my free download. It gives you ten proven reasons for looking after your weight. Are you ringing in the New Year with great resolutions? If you’re ready to, call me for a free half-hour consultation.
The very best of health to you and your loved ones in 2009.
Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Johnston M.Ed.
Professional Health Coach and Educator,
Solutions and Support for Optimal Health
Whether you need to lose those pesky 20 pounds,
work on prevention or regain health, I can help.
Call me. 604.276.8673
www.LifestyleForLongevity.com
www.LoseTwentyPoundsNow.com
Richmond, B.C. Canada
mail to:jj@lifestyleforlongevity.com
Tel. 604.276.8673 Fax. 604.276.8675
December 30, 2008
December 29, 2008
Great New Year Workouts
© Jacquelyn Johnston, M.Ed.
How many machines have you tried out at the Gym? I enjoy using most of them at mine, from the rower to the abduction and adduction ones, plus the elliptical and the ones for the pecs and glutes. When it comes to cardio, however, I prefer a power-walk in the open air, preferably in the park, where I join forces with the scampering squirrels, the ever-nibbling bunnies and the stunning, teal-coloured mallards. Where do you walk?
I was out walking in the snow on the weekend when I espied a machine in the window of a health food store. Curious about this increasingly popular fitness device, I stepped in, and was given the opportunity to try out what I’d call the “stationary earthquake”. This is a machine that makes you feel as if you’re standing in a safe earthquake zone—how’s that for an oxymoron! You can stand on it as it tips you forward, backward and sideways, all the while buzzing up and down your muscles in a controlled and safe way.
It was a great experience. In many gyms around Richmond people are offering free tryouts; if you’re open to a new fun sensation and don’t have any of the health conditions listed on a chart on the wall, I would recommend a try. It gives you an awareness of muscles we take for granted, and muscles that need toning. And you’re tingling afterwards, aware of areas that need better circulation.
And no, you don’t have to rush out and purchase a machine—there are ample opportunities to get some basic muscle tone just by walking. You can get off the bus a stop earlier, walk your dog, walk to and from work if you’re close enough, do walking exercises at home by stepping in place or up and down stairs, and so on. Even if you happen to have hurt your feet you can simply do some pedaling while lying down on your bed or on a yoga mat.
The key is to get those muscles toned. Walking is an inexpensive way of getting your daily cardio boost. It moves those hormones around, stimulates the lymph glands, improves digestion, and leaves you feeling happier, brighter, and more flexible.
Here in Canada we have had a rather snowy December, and there’s still a good foot or two of snow on the ground. I have been getting a terrific cardio workout just by donning those boots and tackling the uneven surfaces, grooves and snow-banks in the city. Ten minutes into the walk you get so toasty-warm you wish there were a coat-check booth right there on the sidewalk! Bonus: if you’re walking in the park the birds will follow you.
When you get home you will have done your heart a favour, your brain will function more efficiently, you’ll have inhaled some invigorating oxygen into your lungs, and you’ll sleep without counting sheep. You’ll have given your entire system a workout, one we badly need in the months we spend largely indoors. And if you’re at work all day you’ll give yourself a break from all that fluorescent lighting.
Does a lunch-time walk outdoors tempt you? “What about lunch?” you say. Call me, and I’ll show you how to take care of that one. Even two lunch-time walks outside per week will help. I can think of at least 5 different ways they can benefit you while you still get all the nutrition you need.
This could also be step 1 towards shedding unwanted pounds and preventing diabetes; better still, avoiding membership in the Diabesity Club that is opening franchises all over the world.
To discover more, download the free report on the right of this screen. I look forward to seeing your comments in this blog post.
I’m off to the snowbanks now: join me?
Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Johnston M.Ed.
Professional Health Coach and Educator
www.LifestyleForLongevity.com
Solutions and support for optimal health:
Whether you need to lose those pesky 20 pounds,
work on prevention or regain health, I can help.
Call me. 604.276.8673
How many machines have you tried out at the Gym? I enjoy using most of them at mine, from the rower to the abduction and adduction ones, plus the elliptical and the ones for the pecs and glutes. When it comes to cardio, however, I prefer a power-walk in the open air, preferably in the park, where I join forces with the scampering squirrels, the ever-nibbling bunnies and the stunning, teal-coloured mallards. Where do you walk?
I was out walking in the snow on the weekend when I espied a machine in the window of a health food store. Curious about this increasingly popular fitness device, I stepped in, and was given the opportunity to try out what I’d call the “stationary earthquake”. This is a machine that makes you feel as if you’re standing in a safe earthquake zone—how’s that for an oxymoron! You can stand on it as it tips you forward, backward and sideways, all the while buzzing up and down your muscles in a controlled and safe way.
It was a great experience. In many gyms around Richmond people are offering free tryouts; if you’re open to a new fun sensation and don’t have any of the health conditions listed on a chart on the wall, I would recommend a try. It gives you an awareness of muscles we take for granted, and muscles that need toning. And you’re tingling afterwards, aware of areas that need better circulation.
And no, you don’t have to rush out and purchase a machine—there are ample opportunities to get some basic muscle tone just by walking. You can get off the bus a stop earlier, walk your dog, walk to and from work if you’re close enough, do walking exercises at home by stepping in place or up and down stairs, and so on. Even if you happen to have hurt your feet you can simply do some pedaling while lying down on your bed or on a yoga mat.
The key is to get those muscles toned. Walking is an inexpensive way of getting your daily cardio boost. It moves those hormones around, stimulates the lymph glands, improves digestion, and leaves you feeling happier, brighter, and more flexible.
Here in Canada we have had a rather snowy December, and there’s still a good foot or two of snow on the ground. I have been getting a terrific cardio workout just by donning those boots and tackling the uneven surfaces, grooves and snow-banks in the city. Ten minutes into the walk you get so toasty-warm you wish there were a coat-check booth right there on the sidewalk! Bonus: if you’re walking in the park the birds will follow you.
When you get home you will have done your heart a favour, your brain will function more efficiently, you’ll have inhaled some invigorating oxygen into your lungs, and you’ll sleep without counting sheep. You’ll have given your entire system a workout, one we badly need in the months we spend largely indoors. And if you’re at work all day you’ll give yourself a break from all that fluorescent lighting.
Does a lunch-time walk outdoors tempt you? “What about lunch?” you say. Call me, and I’ll show you how to take care of that one. Even two lunch-time walks outside per week will help. I can think of at least 5 different ways they can benefit you while you still get all the nutrition you need.
This could also be step 1 towards shedding unwanted pounds and preventing diabetes; better still, avoiding membership in the Diabesity Club that is opening franchises all over the world.
To discover more, download the free report on the right of this screen. I look forward to seeing your comments in this blog post.
I’m off to the snowbanks now: join me?
Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Johnston M.Ed.
Professional Health Coach and Educator
www.LifestyleForLongevity.com
Solutions and support for optimal health:
Whether you need to lose those pesky 20 pounds,
work on prevention or regain health, I can help.
Call me. 604.276.8673
December 28, 2008
Snow Whiteouts
© Jacquelyn Johnston, M. Ed.
Which hemisphere do you live in? Where I live, in Vancouver, Canada, we have just experienced the heaviest snowfalls in decades.
Snow creates the proverbial winter wonderland here in Vancouver, but also traffic snarl-ups, slippery roads thanks to black ice, flight delays that had passengers sleeping on the floor in the International Airport as flight after flight got cancelled.
What does that mean for the weary passenger who just wants to get home for Christmas? It means dehydration and hunger. It means having too many people around you for too long. And it means sharing filtered air for maybe days on end with people who might have cold viruses, ‘flu viruses, coughs, you name it. And even if no one was generously sharing their germs, it means not being exposed to fresh air for very long periods of time. This means not being able to replace the oxygen in your lungs with oxygen that has been enhanced by wide open spaces where there are trees.
This is what happened to thousands of passengers stuck in airports throughout the snow-bound world. They had no choice. The irony is that many who do have the choice deprive themselves of the opportunity of refreshing their lungs with the best oxygen there is, the air in wide-open spaces where there are trees, birds and squirrels. I’m talking about the parks in our cities that lie largely empty in winter, while we play host to germs of all sorts in centrally heated buildings.
What happens to the lungs when they do not have oxygen-rich air and the healthy energy that comes from being in the open air? They lack the ability to renew the blood as they’re supposed to, replacing leftover carbon dioxide with an infusion of blood-enhancing oxygen. On most of my daily walks in the snow of the nearby park I see about ten people, tops. They are not using the park as a short-cut to the office, as they do in summer. They are there by choice, taking a walk, photographing the rabbits and squirrels, bird-watching, feeding the ducks, or building a snowman. They’re in no hurry to leave, as they’re bundled up for the weather in scarves, coats, warm gloves and boots. (Those of you in warmer climes must be chuckling) They will go home with a big boost to their immune system. The very pleasant workout leaves you glowing, with an increase in feel-good hormones and a ton of energy.
I mentioned irony in this situation earlier. Doesn’t it seem ironic that the stranded passengers were trapped in the airport in filtered air for days while people who had the freedom to circulate were not availing themselves of the great opportunity to rejuvenate their lungs? These are choices we make. Why do you think we make them? Every health decision is a choice. Healthy nutrition is a choice. Exercise is a choice. Being a couch potato is a choice. Taking deep breaths of fresh air is a choice. Munching junk food is a choice. Weight loss is a choice. Not paving the way to diabesity is a choice.
Visit my website at http://www.lifestyleforlongevity.com/ and download the free report to read about ten more choices. Then call me for a free consultation to see if the choices you make for your health are enhancing your longevity. Do feel free to post a comment on my blog: I’d love to hear from you.
Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Johnston M.Ed.
Professional Health Coach and Educator,
Solutions and Support for Optimal Health
www.LifestyleForLongevity.com
www.LoseTwentyPoundsNow.com
Richmond, B.C. Canada
mail to:jj@lifestyleforlongevity.com
Tel. 604.276.8673 Fax. 604.276.8675
Whether you need to lose those pesky 20 pounds,
work on prevention or regain health, I can help.
Call me. 604.276.8673
Which hemisphere do you live in? Where I live, in Vancouver, Canada, we have just experienced the heaviest snowfalls in decades.
Snow creates the proverbial winter wonderland here in Vancouver, but also traffic snarl-ups, slippery roads thanks to black ice, flight delays that had passengers sleeping on the floor in the International Airport as flight after flight got cancelled.
What does that mean for the weary passenger who just wants to get home for Christmas? It means dehydration and hunger. It means having too many people around you for too long. And it means sharing filtered air for maybe days on end with people who might have cold viruses, ‘flu viruses, coughs, you name it. And even if no one was generously sharing their germs, it means not being exposed to fresh air for very long periods of time. This means not being able to replace the oxygen in your lungs with oxygen that has been enhanced by wide open spaces where there are trees.
This is what happened to thousands of passengers stuck in airports throughout the snow-bound world. They had no choice. The irony is that many who do have the choice deprive themselves of the opportunity of refreshing their lungs with the best oxygen there is, the air in wide-open spaces where there are trees, birds and squirrels. I’m talking about the parks in our cities that lie largely empty in winter, while we play host to germs of all sorts in centrally heated buildings.
What happens to the lungs when they do not have oxygen-rich air and the healthy energy that comes from being in the open air? They lack the ability to renew the blood as they’re supposed to, replacing leftover carbon dioxide with an infusion of blood-enhancing oxygen. On most of my daily walks in the snow of the nearby park I see about ten people, tops. They are not using the park as a short-cut to the office, as they do in summer. They are there by choice, taking a walk, photographing the rabbits and squirrels, bird-watching, feeding the ducks, or building a snowman. They’re in no hurry to leave, as they’re bundled up for the weather in scarves, coats, warm gloves and boots. (Those of you in warmer climes must be chuckling) They will go home with a big boost to their immune system. The very pleasant workout leaves you glowing, with an increase in feel-good hormones and a ton of energy.
I mentioned irony in this situation earlier. Doesn’t it seem ironic that the stranded passengers were trapped in the airport in filtered air for days while people who had the freedom to circulate were not availing themselves of the great opportunity to rejuvenate their lungs? These are choices we make. Why do you think we make them? Every health decision is a choice. Healthy nutrition is a choice. Exercise is a choice. Being a couch potato is a choice. Taking deep breaths of fresh air is a choice. Munching junk food is a choice. Weight loss is a choice. Not paving the way to diabesity is a choice.
Visit my website at http://www.lifestyleforlongevity.com/ and download the free report to read about ten more choices. Then call me for a free consultation to see if the choices you make for your health are enhancing your longevity. Do feel free to post a comment on my blog: I’d love to hear from you.
Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Johnston M.Ed.
Professional Health Coach and Educator,
Solutions and Support for Optimal Health
www.LifestyleForLongevity.com
www.LoseTwentyPoundsNow.com
Richmond, B.C. Canada
mail to:jj@lifestyleforlongevity.com
Tel. 604.276.8673 Fax. 604.276.8675
Whether you need to lose those pesky 20 pounds,
work on prevention or regain health, I can help.
Call me. 604.276.8673
December 27, 2008
Turkeyed Out?
© Jacquelyn Johnston, M.Ed
Have you broken the dessert record? Been on the scales today? I hope you had a great time with family and friends. And now the Day of Reckoning has come. How are the scales treating you?
At this time of year may people look in the mirror and wonder if they aren’t related to the guy in a red, fur-lined suit—shape-wise, that is. Don’t you wonder how he gets down those chimneys?
You wouldn’t happen to be one of them, by any chance? In a week the media will be full of reminders that this is the time to make new years’ resolutions. Yes, 2009 is just round the corner. Have you seen all the ads on TV that offer Diet A, Diet B and Diet C? Each one is the best, of course. Each one promises that you can have pasta and lasagna, chocolate and dessert. Each one tells you how easy it is: just get the pre-made meals and watch the pounds fall off.
You may be among those who want to believe this. After all, don’t we all know people who have been on these diets and gone down five sizes? Sure, and would you mind telling me how much they put back on after three months? Gym memberships have a way of shooting up in January and petering out by April. So are you a member of the Gung-Ho club, signing up in January, only to lose momentum by April? “How did that happen?” you ask. “I got one of those diets in January 2008, signed up for the Gym, lost 2 pounds, then life happened, and now I’m back to Square One”.
Well, I hate to tell you this, but if you’ve been doing this for a number of years, you’ll probably never see Square Two. There’s enough research out there telling us that 99% of people can’t do it on their own, can’t get to their target weight and stay there without some sort of accountability. And this accountability takes the form of a coach, a health coach who customizes a regimen for you that includes the nutrition you should be having, the exercise that fits your body type, and a host of other elements to be jigsawed into a plan for you to lose at least the first twenty pounds you’ve been struggling with. I invite you to visit my site and download that the free report giving you Ten Proven Reasons Why You Must Lose Twenty Pounds Now. You can leave your questions and comments on my blog before or after reading the report, or both. I look forward to hearing from you.
This would be a good week to think about what you want to do with those twenty pounds that could lead to Diabesity. You are welcome to call me for a free thirty-minute consultation.
Talk soon!
Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Johnston M.Ed.
Professional Health Coach and Educator
www.LifestyleForLongevity.com
Solutions and support for optimal health:
Whether you need to lose those pesky 20 pounds,
work on prevention or regain health, I can help.
Call me. 604.276.8673
Have you broken the dessert record? Been on the scales today? I hope you had a great time with family and friends. And now the Day of Reckoning has come. How are the scales treating you?
At this time of year may people look in the mirror and wonder if they aren’t related to the guy in a red, fur-lined suit—shape-wise, that is. Don’t you wonder how he gets down those chimneys?
You wouldn’t happen to be one of them, by any chance? In a week the media will be full of reminders that this is the time to make new years’ resolutions. Yes, 2009 is just round the corner. Have you seen all the ads on TV that offer Diet A, Diet B and Diet C? Each one is the best, of course. Each one promises that you can have pasta and lasagna, chocolate and dessert. Each one tells you how easy it is: just get the pre-made meals and watch the pounds fall off.
You may be among those who want to believe this. After all, don’t we all know people who have been on these diets and gone down five sizes? Sure, and would you mind telling me how much they put back on after three months? Gym memberships have a way of shooting up in January and petering out by April. So are you a member of the Gung-Ho club, signing up in January, only to lose momentum by April? “How did that happen?” you ask. “I got one of those diets in January 2008, signed up for the Gym, lost 2 pounds, then life happened, and now I’m back to Square One”.
Well, I hate to tell you this, but if you’ve been doing this for a number of years, you’ll probably never see Square Two. There’s enough research out there telling us that 99% of people can’t do it on their own, can’t get to their target weight and stay there without some sort of accountability. And this accountability takes the form of a coach, a health coach who customizes a regimen for you that includes the nutrition you should be having, the exercise that fits your body type, and a host of other elements to be jigsawed into a plan for you to lose at least the first twenty pounds you’ve been struggling with. I invite you to visit my site and download that the free report giving you Ten Proven Reasons Why You Must Lose Twenty Pounds Now. You can leave your questions and comments on my blog before or after reading the report, or both. I look forward to hearing from you.
This would be a good week to think about what you want to do with those twenty pounds that could lead to Diabesity. You are welcome to call me for a free thirty-minute consultation.
Talk soon!
Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Johnston M.Ed.
Professional Health Coach and Educator
www.LifestyleForLongevity.com
Solutions and support for optimal health:
Whether you need to lose those pesky 20 pounds,
work on prevention or regain health, I can help.
Call me. 604.276.8673
December 6, 2008
‘tis the Season To be Merry… So let’s all bring out the Sherry…
© Jacquelyn Johnston, M.Ed.
Do you have a number of social events to attend this week? How about next week? Is your company among those that have decided to eliminate the Office Party for economic reasons? Maybe you’re among those who are glad this is happening, because you feel that current times call for austerity measures.
Some offices are having The Party, scaling back just a little, but I do hope there is still room for a symbolic yuletide gesture of appreciation for the people who make it all happen. A friend of mine, who does the marathon rounds this time of year, tells me that he gets quite tired of the same little processed finger-foods they pass around. These are generally supremely tasty, full of salt, hidden sugars, and ghosts of nutrition. By the time the third gathering rolls around, he is screaming to go home and sit down to a plate of plain pasta seasoned with nothing, washed down with a gallon of water.
Now, while food and wine enjoyed in the company of kindred spirits have a deeply historical significance, would you take a look at the traditional offerings? Egg Nog, for example, is made from ingredients similar to those of ice cream—in fact, if you exclude the spirited version, you have an ice cream recipe! So we drink liquid ice cream—oh I know, it’s a source of magnesium, but along with the calories that come from the liquor it in itself makes for a rich and fattening meal. And do you need a second helping of everything, especially gravy, and are you happy to retire, stuffed and seeing spots in front your eyes, much like Garfield after he’s inhaled an entire dish of lasagna?
A friend of mine who did medical research in the African country of Cameroon told me this: When the hunter-gatherer males kill a large and tasty beast they bring it home in triumph, whereupon the womenfolk prepare the meat for consumption by man, woman and child. When the meal is ready, they eat. And eat. And eat. At the end of the meal their bellies are distended, much like the paunches of our beer-bellied friends here in North America. Then, barely able to move, they graduate to a long nap. This makes perfect sense in that part of the world, as they do not expect the next meal to come till about four days later, when they have to go hunting again. Life there is one continual cycle of hunt, roast, eat and sleep. Is this beginning to sound too familiar for comfort? Oh, and my friend did notice that not one of the tribesmen he observed had an ounce of fat on him. I wonder why.
Is your festive fare conducive to good cheer, or to obesity—and its frequent companion—diabetes. Have we got a recipe for Diabesity here?
Go plans for your festive menu? Do share it with us atwww.lifestyleforlongevity.com There’s lots of room for your comments—just scroll down and enlighten us!
Good cheer to all !
Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Johnston M.Ed.
www.LifestyleForLongevity.com
Solutions and support for optimal health:
Whether you need to lose those pesky 20 pounds,
work on prevention or regain health, I can help.
Call me. 604.276.8673
Do you have a number of social events to attend this week? How about next week? Is your company among those that have decided to eliminate the Office Party for economic reasons? Maybe you’re among those who are glad this is happening, because you feel that current times call for austerity measures.
Some offices are having The Party, scaling back just a little, but I do hope there is still room for a symbolic yuletide gesture of appreciation for the people who make it all happen. A friend of mine, who does the marathon rounds this time of year, tells me that he gets quite tired of the same little processed finger-foods they pass around. These are generally supremely tasty, full of salt, hidden sugars, and ghosts of nutrition. By the time the third gathering rolls around, he is screaming to go home and sit down to a plate of plain pasta seasoned with nothing, washed down with a gallon of water.
Now, while food and wine enjoyed in the company of kindred spirits have a deeply historical significance, would you take a look at the traditional offerings? Egg Nog, for example, is made from ingredients similar to those of ice cream—in fact, if you exclude the spirited version, you have an ice cream recipe! So we drink liquid ice cream—oh I know, it’s a source of magnesium, but along with the calories that come from the liquor it in itself makes for a rich and fattening meal. And do you need a second helping of everything, especially gravy, and are you happy to retire, stuffed and seeing spots in front your eyes, much like Garfield after he’s inhaled an entire dish of lasagna?
A friend of mine who did medical research in the African country of Cameroon told me this: When the hunter-gatherer males kill a large and tasty beast they bring it home in triumph, whereupon the womenfolk prepare the meat for consumption by man, woman and child. When the meal is ready, they eat. And eat. And eat. At the end of the meal their bellies are distended, much like the paunches of our beer-bellied friends here in North America. Then, barely able to move, they graduate to a long nap. This makes perfect sense in that part of the world, as they do not expect the next meal to come till about four days later, when they have to go hunting again. Life there is one continual cycle of hunt, roast, eat and sleep. Is this beginning to sound too familiar for comfort? Oh, and my friend did notice that not one of the tribesmen he observed had an ounce of fat on him. I wonder why.
So now, after all the festivities at work we continue the food-fest at home. This is wonderful as far as the company goes, and as long as we don’t think we’re on a cruise. Good food is one of the warmest expressions of friendship and good cheer. Like everything it is best enjoyed in moderation. Overloading the liver and tempting the pancreas with an assault of sugary invaders will have its consequences.
Is your festive fare conducive to good cheer, or to obesity—and its frequent companion—diabetes. Have we got a recipe for Diabesity here?
Go plans for your festive menu? Do share it with us at
Good cheer to all !
Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Johnston M.Ed.
Solutions and support for optimal health:
Whether you need to lose those pesky 20 pounds,
work on prevention or regain health, I can help.
Call me. 604.276.8673
December 5, 2008
Ahhhhhh-Chooo!
© Jacquelyn Johnston, M.Ed.
Have you seen that ad on TV of a woman wheezing and sneezing, just about to give up the ghost, while a jingle in the background sings “shall I go or shall I stay”? Next up, you see a magic product that is going to make her feel so well she can go to work. Surprisingly, she makes the decision to stay at home, and the next shot shows her sitting blissfully in bed, all smiles, and every sign of 'flu misery wiped off her face. She has, of course, taken the magic potion.
And have you noticed the number of magic elixirs being marketed to help you mask your cold symptoms? Fast, effective solutions out of a bottle? They’re about as good for you as the fast effective solutions other people get out of another kind of bottle.
I wonder where this compulsion comes from that makes us keep going no matter what. Picture this: you’re feeling miserable and feverish, your head is spinning and your nose is running faster than an Olympic sprinter, and all you want to do is stay in bed and sleep. Yet many an ad says “take this and go to work”. No one will even know you have a cold. And so you take a dose of this magic potion and soldier on. You drive when you should be sleeping, you walk into the workplace with about 50% of your normal energy, and you “attack” the task at hand somewhat more slowly than normal.
You also make a contribution to the workplace germ pool. You leave millions of them on desk-tops, the paper you handle, the coffee-machine, the photocopier…and goodness knows where else. As the day wears on you get the symptoms back that you had at 6 am and you drag yourself around, determined to get through the day, dreaming every minute of the moment you get home and back into bed. Oh my, what a valiant soldier you are.
Folks, that’s presenteeism at its worst. You haul your physical self to the workplace, denying that you really ought to let your body do its job, and slowing everything down (except the multiplication of germs) in the process. You are physically present, but that’s about all. You’re feeling woozy, and I wonder who is benefiting from your being there.
Now here’s a thought: a cold isn’t just something you catch, like the measles or chickenpox. It’s your body telling you you’re overloaded with toxins, and that you need to give your liver, among other things, a chance to do the inner laundry. Contrary to popular belief, there is no substitute for tons of rest and lots of fluids. Chicken soup wouldn’t hurt either. Masking the symptoms means introducing even more toxins into your body, paving the way for the next cold. Ever heard people say “I just keep getting one cold after another". Well it’s usually not a new cold, but the old one you never allowed to quit.
What’s the alternative? You decide. Maybe it’s time to listen to your body, to have a plan for getting real, for leaving the symptoms behind forever. Want long-term solutions? No idea where to start? I invite you to go to www.lifestyleforlongevity and download the free report. You will see how the little things we do to damage ourselves on a daily basis can have long-term consequences.
In the meantime, try some real chicken soup—not the processed stuff out of a can, and get back under those covers.
Sniff-be-gone!
Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Johnston M.Ed.
www.LifestyleForLongevity.com
Solutions and support for optimal health:
Whether you need to lose those pesky 20 pounds,
work on prevention or regain health, I can help.
Call me. 604.276.8673
Have you seen that ad on TV of a woman wheezing and sneezing, just about to give up the ghost, while a jingle in the background sings “shall I go or shall I stay”? Next up, you see a magic product that is going to make her feel so well she can go to work. Surprisingly, she makes the decision to stay at home, and the next shot shows her sitting blissfully in bed, all smiles, and every sign of 'flu misery wiped off her face. She has, of course, taken the magic potion.
And have you noticed the number of magic elixirs being marketed to help you mask your cold symptoms? Fast, effective solutions out of a bottle? They’re about as good for you as the fast effective solutions other people get out of another kind of bottle.
I wonder where this compulsion comes from that makes us keep going no matter what. Picture this: you’re feeling miserable and feverish, your head is spinning and your nose is running faster than an Olympic sprinter, and all you want to do is stay in bed and sleep. Yet many an ad says “take this and go to work”. No one will even know you have a cold. And so you take a dose of this magic potion and soldier on. You drive when you should be sleeping, you walk into the workplace with about 50% of your normal energy, and you “attack” the task at hand somewhat more slowly than normal.
You also make a contribution to the workplace germ pool. You leave millions of them on desk-tops, the paper you handle, the coffee-machine, the photocopier…and goodness knows where else. As the day wears on you get the symptoms back that you had at 6 am and you drag yourself around, determined to get through the day, dreaming every minute of the moment you get home and back into bed. Oh my, what a valiant soldier you are.
Folks, that’s presenteeism at its worst. You haul your physical self to the workplace, denying that you really ought to let your body do its job, and slowing everything down (except the multiplication of germs) in the process. You are physically present, but that’s about all. You’re feeling woozy, and I wonder who is benefiting from your being there.
Now here’s a thought: a cold isn’t just something you catch, like the measles or chickenpox. It’s your body telling you you’re overloaded with toxins, and that you need to give your liver, among other things, a chance to do the inner laundry. Contrary to popular belief, there is no substitute for tons of rest and lots of fluids. Chicken soup wouldn’t hurt either. Masking the symptoms means introducing even more toxins into your body, paving the way for the next cold. Ever heard people say “I just keep getting one cold after another". Well it’s usually not a new cold, but the old one you never allowed to quit.
What’s the alternative? You decide. Maybe it’s time to listen to your body, to have a plan for getting real, for leaving the symptoms behind forever. Want long-term solutions? No idea where to start? I invite you to go to www.lifestyleforlongevity and download the free report. You will see how the little things we do to damage ourselves on a daily basis can have long-term consequences.
In the meantime, try some real chicken soup—not the processed stuff out of a can, and get back under those covers.
Sniff-be-gone!
Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Johnston M.Ed.
www.LifestyleForLongevity.com
Solutions and support for optimal health:
Whether you need to lose those pesky 20 pounds,
work on prevention or regain health, I can help.
Call me. 604.276.8673
December 3, 2008
You snooze, you win!
© Jacquelyn Johnston, M.Ed.
When I asked my former high school students what they planned to do on my next Professional Development Day, there was a chorus of “SLEEP!” When I asked friends who worked in an office, the response was “SLEEP!” My friend the night-duty nurse? “SLEEP!” My commercial pilot neighbor? “SLEEP!” Guess what my friend with twin baby boys wants for Christmas—no, not two front teeth, but a Two-Ton Sleep!
Is there anyone who doesn’t want to sleep in tomorrow, or have one of those dream offices (no pun intended) in Japan where they actually have a sleep room that employees can retreat to for a twenty-minute respite from the pressures of the computer screen? Ah-ha! Is that lost company time? What’s your take? It may well be one of the most enlightened ways of improving the ROI, not to mention of providing a more humane workplace.
We used to talk about eight hours of sleep per night, but in today’s conditions most working people count themselves lucky if they can get six, with seven being the height of luxury. Let’s say you do get six: are they hours of restorative sleep, or an hour wherein you wind down, four of fretful tossing and turning, and another hour in the half-conscious awareness (dread) of all you’ll have to accomplish in the day ahead? What have your hours of sleep done for you when you roll out of bed? Assuming, of course, that you haven’t been waken up by that rattling door, that light you suddenly remembered leaving on in the garage.
We have a tendency to eat more if we haven’t had a good night’s sleep. It’s just the body’s way of reaching out for some means of repair that sleep hasn’t given us. And so the dominos go: sleep deprivation leads to more food, often of the high-glycemic variety, more sugary stop-gaps lead to sluggishness; this often gives way to food choices that fill but do not nourish, vegetables and fruit go out the window, caffeine intervenes to keep us awake, and often interferes with sleep when we actually get into bed that night.
Oh dear! What does all that do for weight management? Well if you don’t get enough sleep your body has trouble managing the sugars you ingest. This produces cravings for all the wrong things. The liver does not get the nightly vacation it needs to get your food sorted out, the kidneys are totally confused, and your blood sugar soars. Your muscles lose their firmness, something made worse by a lack of exercise, and you eat just to keep those eyes open. Hmmm, I wonder f that has anything to do with the increasing incidence of diabetes and obesity we have in North America? Does this remind you of the lifestyle of anyone you know? Do you know what Diabesity can do to you, your family and your friends?
I invite you to find out by downloading the free report on my website. Then add comment to this blog. I’d love to hear your views on this.
Meanwhile, sweet dreams!
Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Johnston M.Ed.
www.LifestyleForLongevity.com
Solutions and support for optimal health:
Whether you need to lose those pesky 20 pounds,
work on prevention or regain health, I can help.
Call me. 604.276.8673
When I asked my former high school students what they planned to do on my next Professional Development Day, there was a chorus of “SLEEP!” When I asked friends who worked in an office, the response was “SLEEP!” My friend the night-duty nurse? “SLEEP!” My commercial pilot neighbor? “SLEEP!” Guess what my friend with twin baby boys wants for Christmas—no, not two front teeth, but a Two-Ton Sleep!
Is there anyone who doesn’t want to sleep in tomorrow, or have one of those dream offices (no pun intended) in Japan where they actually have a sleep room that employees can retreat to for a twenty-minute respite from the pressures of the computer screen? Ah-ha! Is that lost company time? What’s your take? It may well be one of the most enlightened ways of improving the ROI, not to mention of providing a more humane workplace.
We used to talk about eight hours of sleep per night, but in today’s conditions most working people count themselves lucky if they can get six, with seven being the height of luxury. Let’s say you do get six: are they hours of restorative sleep, or an hour wherein you wind down, four of fretful tossing and turning, and another hour in the half-conscious awareness (dread) of all you’ll have to accomplish in the day ahead? What have your hours of sleep done for you when you roll out of bed? Assuming, of course, that you haven’t been waken up by that rattling door, that light you suddenly remembered leaving on in the garage.
We have a tendency to eat more if we haven’t had a good night’s sleep. It’s just the body’s way of reaching out for some means of repair that sleep hasn’t given us. And so the dominos go: sleep deprivation leads to more food, often of the high-glycemic variety, more sugary stop-gaps lead to sluggishness; this often gives way to food choices that fill but do not nourish, vegetables and fruit go out the window, caffeine intervenes to keep us awake, and often interferes with sleep when we actually get into bed that night.
Oh dear! What does all that do for weight management? Well if you don’t get enough sleep your body has trouble managing the sugars you ingest. This produces cravings for all the wrong things. The liver does not get the nightly vacation it needs to get your food sorted out, the kidneys are totally confused, and your blood sugar soars. Your muscles lose their firmness, something made worse by a lack of exercise, and you eat just to keep those eyes open. Hmmm, I wonder f that has anything to do with the increasing incidence of diabetes and obesity we have in North America? Does this remind you of the lifestyle of anyone you know? Do you know what Diabesity can do to you, your family and your friends?
I invite you to find out by downloading the free report on my website. Then add comment to this blog. I’d love to hear your views on this.
Meanwhile, sweet dreams!
Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Johnston M.Ed.
www.LifestyleForLongevity.com
Solutions and support for optimal health:
Whether you need to lose those pesky 20 pounds,
work on prevention or regain health, I can help.
Call me. 604.276.8673
December 2, 2008
Steve & Tess
© Jacquelyn Johnston, M.Ed.
Are you ONE or THREE?
Am I what? Statistics at the end of the last century used to say that half of the North American population was overweight. Today, in 2008, it isn’t 50% any more. Three out of four are overweight.
So imagine you’re part of a quartet. Are you one of the three, or are you the one who is the right weight? “How will I know?” my neighbours Ron and Tess asked me. I suggested that they google “body mass index” and follow the instructions. They did. Oops! They then tried bending and letting their hands hang lower than their knees. (Forget about touching the toes) Steve got dizzy and Tess started panting as if she had been running up the stairs. That in itself tells a cautionary tale.
If you get dizzy or you start panting, maybe it’s time to give me a call.
“But”, they said, “We exercise. We walk in the park for 30 minutes every day!”.
That may be so, but if you’re not working with weights you’re losing muscle. At the rate of six pounds or so for every 10 years of life. When you lose muscle you don’t burn food as fast. And I won’t tell you how much fatty tissue you’re gaining.
Well, both Steve and Tess signed up for strength training at the gym. That was 3 months ago. They don’t get dizzy or pant any more, but they want to keep going. Steve has lost 11 pounds and Tess, twelve! The raided their kitchen cupboards and threw out every processed item they had, replacing it with vast gaping spaces and daily shopping lists of whole foods. They have extra room for their book collection. They feel a lot more energetic, fit in eight servings of fruits and veggies every day, and are getting ready to wrestle a Sumo.
When they go to the supermarket they look at what other people have in their carts and whisper: “Can’t believe we used to stock up on that stuff”. Pop has been replaced by water, crackers with fruit. Their friends know that what they bring for pot luck will be both healthy and delicious. And did I detect a new spring in their step when I saw them yesterday?
Steve and Tess are determined to lose twenty pounds, and they are doing it on their own, with a few suggestions from me. With full-time coaching they could have lost the twenty pounds by now, but they wanted to challenge themselves on their own. Steve had a triple bypass last year, and Tess got the wake-up call when he doctor told her six months ago that she had pre-diabetes. Together, they are a powerhouse of determination and spunk.
Most people, however, find it hard to do keep this up on their own, as February 1st each year will testify. Tried everything? Put it all back on again? Help is on the way; visit my website at www.LoseTwentyPoundsNow.com and download my free report. Then contact me at jj@lifestyleforlongevity.com . You’ll get all the individualized solutions and support you need to optimize your health.
The best of health to you.
Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Johnston M.Ed.
www.LifestyleForLongevity.com
Solutions and support for optimal health:
Whether you need to lose those pesky 20 pounds,
work on prevention or regain health, I can help.
Call me. 604.276.8673
Are you ONE or THREE?
Am I what? Statistics at the end of the last century used to say that half of the North American population was overweight. Today, in 2008, it isn’t 50% any more. Three out of four are overweight.
So imagine you’re part of a quartet. Are you one of the three, or are you the one who is the right weight? “How will I know?” my neighbours Ron and Tess asked me. I suggested that they google “body mass index” and follow the instructions. They did. Oops! They then tried bending and letting their hands hang lower than their knees. (Forget about touching the toes) Steve got dizzy and Tess started panting as if she had been running up the stairs. That in itself tells a cautionary tale.
If you get dizzy or you start panting, maybe it’s time to give me a call.
“But”, they said, “We exercise. We walk in the park for 30 minutes every day!”.
That may be so, but if you’re not working with weights you’re losing muscle. At the rate of six pounds or so for every 10 years of life. When you lose muscle you don’t burn food as fast. And I won’t tell you how much fatty tissue you’re gaining.
Well, both Steve and Tess signed up for strength training at the gym. That was 3 months ago. They don’t get dizzy or pant any more, but they want to keep going. Steve has lost 11 pounds and Tess, twelve! The raided their kitchen cupboards and threw out every processed item they had, replacing it with vast gaping spaces and daily shopping lists of whole foods. They have extra room for their book collection. They feel a lot more energetic, fit in eight servings of fruits and veggies every day, and are getting ready to wrestle a Sumo.
When they go to the supermarket they look at what other people have in their carts and whisper: “Can’t believe we used to stock up on that stuff”. Pop has been replaced by water, crackers with fruit. Their friends know that what they bring for pot luck will be both healthy and delicious. And did I detect a new spring in their step when I saw them yesterday?
Steve and Tess are determined to lose twenty pounds, and they are doing it on their own, with a few suggestions from me. With full-time coaching they could have lost the twenty pounds by now, but they wanted to challenge themselves on their own. Steve had a triple bypass last year, and Tess got the wake-up call when he doctor told her six months ago that she had pre-diabetes. Together, they are a powerhouse of determination and spunk.
Most people, however, find it hard to do keep this up on their own, as February 1st each year will testify. Tried everything? Put it all back on again? Help is on the way; visit my website at www.LoseTwentyPoundsNow.com and download my free report. Then contact me at jj@lifestyleforlongevity.com . You’ll get all the individualized solutions and support you need to optimize your health.
The best of health to you.
Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Johnston M.Ed.
www.LifestyleForLongevity.com
Solutions and support for optimal health:
Whether you need to lose those pesky 20 pounds,
work on prevention or regain health, I can help.
Call me. 604.276.8673
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