Teen Saved!

© Jacquelyn Johnston, M.Ed.


Did you read about the success story of the 15-year old boy who lost 30 pounds of his own accord? There was a full-page feature in the papers about it, with the news that weight loss, exercise and diet all helped him win his battle with Type 2 Diabetes. Now 15, the lad was just 14 when he was diagnosed following a struggle with obesity coupled with all the classic symptoms of Type 2 diabetes.


He graduated from being an obese, sedentary, junk-food and pop consumer to a fit, gym-frequenting teen with realistic views on what high-glycemic food does to the growing body. The cookies he used to eat had 370 calories each.


From no breakfast to healthy meals with lots of fibre, the young man has taken 8 inches off his waist size in a single year. How’s that for waist management! He now no longer needs insulin shots, and has tamed his diabetes monster so effectively that he’s determined there will be no turning back.
Diabetes has become the most widespread epidemic in the world today. Compounded by the Diabesity factor, i.e. obesity leading to diabetes. The teen was lucky: unlike him, many obese youngsters with pre-diabetes do not exhibit any symptoms.


Imagine the shock when told of the diagnosis on a regular check-up at the doctor’s office. Well, actually, should there really be a shock? We have been warned that the number of obese children has grown exponentially in the last 20 years, and that the weight problem contributes to diabetes, becoming Diabesity.


Surely an overweight child can see himself in the mirror sometimes. The teasing and taunts that often spread in the school yard don’t do much for the child’s self-esteem either. Nor, for that matter, does parental denial. We now know that chubby is not necessarily cute: it may be the precursor to Type 2 diabetes.


Judging from some of the highly processed meals children often have at lunch, the all-pervasive pop and the availability of reheated food at the corner store, is it really surprising that childhood diabetes is on the rise? Is it surprising that we may be looking at the first generation who could well die before their parents, thanks to the weight factor alone? Did you have a fat kid in your class in elementary school? Was this child ever teased? Maybe you were that child? If so, how did you deal with it?


Are you aware that the incidence of diabetes will be going up by 50 % in the next fifteen years? Even in developing countries! Do we want to wait till our children are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes before making lifestyle changes—simple things like switching off the mesmerizing box and going outside for some exercise? Like cleaning out those kitchen cupboards? Like graduating from sugary drinks to plain, good ol’ water? Like having a deliciously healthy breakfast every day? Like getting to bed early enough so that getting up a little earlier for that delicious breakfast will be a pleasure and not a chore?


Do you have any suggestions for ensuring the children we are responsible for do not join the line-up for the daily insulin shots? You can let me know what you think by scrolling down to the comment section of this blog. Visit my website and download the free report giving you 10 Proven Reasons Why You Should Lose 20 Pounds now, and send friends there who could benefit from this information, or who might have family members or friends who need to keep Diabesity at bay now!


Here’s to a diabetes-free future!


Enjoy some time outdoors over the weekend.

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

Get those feet going!

© Jacquelyn Johnston, M.Ed.

Want a failsafe Cure-All?

I was recently at a super seminar on arthritis when something struck me about the audience. Most of the attendees were obese. When the seminar was over, there was a line-up to have a word with the speaker, a rheumatologist.

The Doctor had inserted subtle hints throughout his presentation about the need to exercise. e.g.

• If you want to relieve the pain in your knees I suggest you go out and exercise
• If you want the pain in the hands to get better take at least ten minutes a day to exercise
• If you want the swelling in the hips to go down get into the pool and do some aquasize
• If you want to improve your concentration…

The speaker listened patiently to the people in the lineup, who were asking him, one after another: “I don’t know why I still have this pain in the wrist. I’ve taken (drug x) for 3 years”…and when he asked “Do you exercise?” the answer was “No, but...”

Don’t know about you, but it sure looks like a clear case of no ifs and or buts to me. It is well known that exercise is the first step to better anything in health. So is weight loss. It’s the secret to better joints, better sleep, a better immune system, better hormone production, better moods, better eyes, better lymphatic balance, better waist management, and a better outlook on life overall, which is key any kind of recovery.

And, sure as fate, weight management is step one in insurance against diabesity. Many of the attendees were either prime candidates for the combination of diabetes and obesity, both of which would have compounded their arthritis. Twenty pounds less and they would have stood a better chance of going down those stairs without wincing, walked to the refreshment table without limping, and opening those nasty jars without getting a hernia. The speaker did not ask them to run a marathon. He asked them to start with baby steps.

OK, so you agree. You want to avoid joining the 17.5 million who were diagnosed with diabetes in 2007, it might be an idea to start now. But where do you start? Well, when does your day start? If in the morning, start in the morning, before you get out of bed if possible. If you work nights you can do this when you get out of bed in the afternoon, before you have a bite prior to setting out for your shift. Your joints are more likely to be warm and relaxed, so some pedaling in the air would be a good place to start. Stretching from the right side to the left, breathing deeply, getting on all fours and arching your back while pulling in those abs. would be a wonderful way to start. Your joints will thank you, as will your stomach, your immune system, your hormones, your waist, your outlook? Your lungs will fill themselves with oxygen, your heart rate will gradually normalize, and your brain will be gently coaxed awake.

You can then repeat the same exercises on the floor, or when you’re vertical. A good shower, and you’re ready for your day! Whether you’re looking to ease that joint pain or be more alert, think more clearly or get your metabolism going for the day, you’ll have made a good start. Your blood vessels will thank you for it. Know anyone who could get started on an exercise regimen? What do you think? Scroll down and let me know what you think in the "comment" section of the blog page.

Go to my website and download the free report giving you ten proven reasons why you need to take care of yourself—lose some weight, get the cholesterol under control. Or just start out like the frisky squirrel leaping from branch to branch. Go now to

www.LifestyleForLongevity.com
See you there!
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

Diabesity: Arthritis' Pal

© Jacquelyn Johnston, M.Ed.

I was recently at a seminar on arthritis when something struck me. Most of the attendees were obese. When the seminar was over there was line-up to have a word with the speaker, who was excellent. The speaker had inserted subtle hints throughout his presentation about the need to exercise. e.g.

• If you want to relieve the pain in your knees I suggest you go out and exercise
• If you want the pain in the hands to get better take at least ten minutes a day to exercise
• If you want the swelling in the hips to go down get into the pool and do some aquasize
• If you want to concentrate better…

The speaker listened patiently to the people in the lineup, who were asking him, one after another: “I don’t know why I still have this pain in the wrist. I’ve taken (drug x) for 3 years”…and when he asked “Do you exercise?” the answer was “No, but...”

Don’t know about you, but it sure looks like a clear case of no ifs ands or buts to me. It is well known that exercise is the first step to better anything in health. So is weight loss. It’s the secret to better joints, better sleep, a better immune system, better hormone production, better moods, better eyes, better lymphatic balance, better waist management, and a better outlook on life overall, which is key any kind of recovery.

And, sure as fate, weight management is step one in insurance against diabesity. Many of the attendees were either prime candidates for the combination of diabetes and obesity, both of which would have compounded their arthritis. Twenty pounds less and they would have stood a better chance of going down those stairs without wincing, walked to the refreshment table without limping, and opening those nasty jars without getting a hernia. The speaker did not ask them to run a marathon. He asked them to start with baby steps.

OK so you agree. You want to avoid joining the 17.5 million who were diagnosed with diabetes in 2007, it might be an idea to start now. But where do you start? Well, when does your day start? If in the morning, start in the morning, before you get out of bed if possible. If you work nights you can do this when you get out of bed in the afternoon, before you have a bite prior to setting out for your shift. Your joints are more likely to be warm and relaxed, so some pedaling in the air would be a good place to start. Stretching from the right side to the left, breathing deeply, getting on all fours and arching your back while pulling in those abs. would be a wonderful way to start. Your joints will thank you, as will your stomach, your immune system, your hormones, your waist, your outlook? Your lungs will fill themselves with oxygen, your heart rate will gradually normalize, and your brain will be gently coaxed awake.

You can then repeat the same exercises on the floor, or when you’re vertical. A good shower, and you’re ready for your day! Whether you’re looking to ease that joint pain or be more alert, think more clearly or get your metabolism going for the day, you’ll have made a good start. Your blood vessels will thank you for it. Go to my website and download the free report giving you ten proven reasons why you need to take care of yourself—lose some weight, get the cholesterol under control. Or just start out like the frisky squirrel leaping from branch to branch.

Go now to http://www.lifestyleforlongevity.com/ See you there!
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 at 604.276.8673

Go to my website and register for a free thirty-minute health coaching consultation.... http://www.lifestyleforlongevity.com/