Kim's Fitness and Nutrition

We are a smart people and on the whole, we are well educated as well. Yet it is mind boggling to see the majority of us living in complete denial as to ?why? we continue to live in a body that is seriously overweight. Certainly, there are those individuals that have actual diseases that are causing their bodies to gain and cling to excess weight, but frankly, they are very rare. There simply is no other explanation for so many of us to be in the shape we are in, except that we are choosing to live in denial. I?m here to help you, to act as your wake-up call. I do hope and pray that you can hear me and choose to become willing to change.

Of all the treasures known to man, they all pale in the absence of joy and happiness. There is not a human alive that does not, whether they are conscious of it or not, strive to be happy. Many go their entire lives reaching for that next right person, opportunity, or material object that they are sure, once it is in their possession, will finally make them happy. The craziest part is, it is fleeting happiness at best, and then they are found scrambling for yet another ?something? to pursue. What if happiness was available to you anytime, in any situation and at any instance that you so desired? Well guess what? It is.

Our bodies are incredibly intelligent. They adapt very quickly to the day to day tasks that are required of them, and that is true of your fitness routine as well. Spring, and actually every season, provides an ideal opportunity to shake things up and throw your body some curves. Seriously, changing your fitness program every 2-3 months is not only an effective way to battle boredom, but frankly, if you are bored, so is your body. What better time to take advantage of the beautiful weather and get outside for some circuit training?

The vast majority of people walking the planet today are what I call the ?walking unconscious.? This is my judgment ? I own that and I realize it sounds harsh, but let me explain what I mean by this. Many move through their day in and day out existence merely existing. Their bodies go through the motions and complete the tasks necessary for them to survive; however, there is little to no joy there. It appears almost robotic and emotionless, but I know as human beings there must be great emotion going on under the surface, and I am willing to bet it is a living Hell. Despair, depression, fear, hopelessness and disappointment reign for these people. This is not who we are nor is it who we came forth to be. There are hundreds of reasons why people end up in this terrible state of barely existing, but there really is only one way out ... willingness.

Deciding on the quantity of foods that we each eat is like comparing apples and oranges, it varies from body to body. Still, I am asked the question, ?How much food is an appropriate amount?? all the time. For starters, let me say that a 120-pound woman is not going to want to ingest the same amount of food that a 200-pound man will require. The body size and muscular composition dictate a large percentage of the calories necessary for good health. Another factor that weighs heavily is energy output. How active is this person on an average day? If you have a sedentary profession, the calories your body burns over the course of a day are fairly low compared to, say, a UPS driver who is typically on a very tight schedule, drives short distances and then loads a hand truck with varying weight packages and runs them upstairs, down alleyways, into large buildings, etc. Comparatively, this person burns a lot more calories in a day?s time. Muscle mass and activity level are the greatest factors to consider when trying to figure out one?s caloric intake each day.

If we are determined to change our physical, mental and/or spiritual fitness, then we have to be willing to start telling a new story. Most of us have been telling it ?like it is? for decades, by continuously speaking, both to others and to ourselves, the facts about what we are ?wishing? would change. Unfortunately, all the wishing in the world is not going to amount to a hill of beans unless we decide to see it and speak it differently.

I know these sound like harsh words, but I can?t help but look around and notice the thousands of people who remain tremendously overweight, and I have to wonder. The media is full of the staggering statistics, and you can?t go anywhere now without seeing some reference to the severe medical problems that ARE responsible for killing people way before their time. Ninety percent of those problems are rooted in choosing to live in a body that is extremely overweight.

Yoga has recently regained popularity among the avid exercising community; however, it could gain even more. Conclusive studies have found that yoga is very effective in fighting or promoting healthy recovery from depression, chronic heart disease, breast cancer, menopausal symptoms and chronic back pain. Some people still have reservations about taking yoga for fear that it has religious connotations, but frankly most classes have become so westernized that there is very little authentic ?practice? of yoga being taught, at least not in our mainstream athletic facilities, gyms, and health clubs. Certainly, if one wants to find an Eastern-based yoga class, Asheville is a hot bed for such classes, but for your purposes, the yoga I am encouraging is a simple form comprised of poses (exercises) and a brief meditation at the end.

Many diets and weight loss food programs have flooded the media over the past 15-20 years, and that isn?t slowing down any time soon. People are desperately trying to find a solution for their excess body weight, and in that desperation many have succumbed to the hype that says, ?This diet is the one that will take weight off fast and keep it off.? The hype that is the most ridiculous of all are the ones that claim carbohydrates are the enemy and are responsible for making us fat. This is a global statement and it is so far from the truth.

Most of us have been trained to hold ourselves in a justifying, explaining place as to ?why this is so wrong,? and we righteously maintain an angry, even fearful, position EXPECTING to see things change. This is fundamentally impossible -- it defies the laws of the Universe and these laws cannot be bucked. The simple truth is positive creates positive and negative creates negative ? period -- end of story. Struggle does not bring joy. Pushing hard, forcing, demanding things to be different, does not bring happiness ... not once, not ever.