Photograph by Bob Capella	Linda Hammitt "From Linda's Desk" "20 Rules"
Photograph by John Merkle	Nicole Moneer "Resolutions for our New Year"

In November, I was flipping through a magazine while waiting to be called in by my doctor. I couldn't help but listen in on a conversation by 2 middle-aged women who were also in the doctor's waiting room. They were discussing what they eat and how they have had to change their eating habits based on what was best for their health or for their spouse's health. The one point they stated over and over was that in eating healthy natural foods they don't crave the bad stuff anymore!

I thought to myself, "What a great topic for my next newsletter in January 2005! Just in time for all those New Year's resolutions!" I mean how many of you have made it your resolution to go on a diet this year? Do you want to lose weight or to increase lean body mass? After making that resolution, how many of you have then lost the weight just to gain it right back? This is a cyclical process that needs to be stopped. It's not just a resolution you are making for the New Year, but for the rest of your life with the new you!

There are several diet programs out there that have proven to be successful: Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, The South Beach Diet, Atkins and the list goes on. However, most of these diets don't provide long-term results unless you're well disciplined, which most of us aren't. The key to being successful with any diet (or as I prefer to call it, an eating plan for life) involves two things: mind set and knowledge.

MIND SET:

You have to want it to achieve it. I find many times people want to lose weight/get into shape but aren't self-motivated. In addition they may feel they don't have time because they feel consumed by other things that take precedence in their lives (kids, 2 jobs). Sooner or later these same people are forced to make a change in their diet and exercise due to doctor's orders. In the words of Jennifer Aniston during an interview with Barbara Walters, "Eating is about life now, not a reaction to your past." It's important to take initiative in regards to your health and diet. Don't wait until it's too late and you're diagnosed with Heart Disease or Diabetes.

I believe the human mind can do anything it sets out to accomplish, if we truly want it. Friends and family come to me for advice on both diet and exercise…I gladly give it to them. I tell them the most important thing is only they can make their goals last through a positive attitude and positive self-talk. If one diet/eating plan doesn't work tweak it or try another. When at first you don't succeed, try, try again. If you take care of yourself NOW with proper nutrition and exercise you'll be around a lot longer to enjoy time spent with loved ones. You will also improve the quality of your life, including those daily activities that as we get older seem to be a bit more challenging (like driving, bending over, carrying groceries, climbing a flight of stairs, etc.). In the end you'll be satisfied having reached your goal and hopefully you'll be saving when it comes to health insurance and doctor bills!

KNOWLEDGE:

Educate yourself…read up on different diets and watch TV. Over the past several months, I have viewed good specials regarding diet and health on Dateline, The Today Show, and the local news. The Internet is a great tool as well. First of all, know what you put in your body. For one-week write a journal of everything that you eat. Then at the end of the week review it to see your nutritional intake. In addition, I want you to make time to prepare your food, whether it's a meal or a snack. Be sure to choose a well-balanced diet, which consists of mainly natural foods and eat your processed foods in moderation (meaning only have a couple of bites vs. a whole serving size or plate full). Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the new food pyramid expected out later this year (last released in 1992). Size also matters; be sure to eat small meals throughout the day. Many times people think if they starve themselves and eat 1-2 large meals a day that they will loose weight. Wrong! The more balanced meals you eat in a day (at least 4-6), the higher your metabolism. Once you condition your palette to eating healthy natural foods, you won't crave the bad stuff as much. TRUST ME, I say this with confidence from my own trial and error. At the same time you don't have to deprive yourself. I have seen a lot of hype on TV about French women and how they stay so trim. Portion control plays a big role as well. Eat until you're satisfied, not until you're ready to burst. Be patient! Diet is all about trial and error. It's all about developing an eating plan that is suitable for your lifestyle. For instance in my diet, I eat small portions of a combination of high protein and complex carb foods. I love sweets, but I make sure that I only eat sweets and junk food in moderation.

What you need to do is set goals that are attainable. Start off small by cutting out 1 thing at a time, like sugary soda pop…then in another week or two cut out fast/fried foods, maybe have them 2-4 times a month as a reward. Lent is around the corner (for those of you who practice and even for those of you who don't). One year I gave up sweets for Lent, 40 days is nothing! I survived and ever since my palette has been conditioned and cutting out sweets is cake (and believe me, I love cake). In addition, pick a diet/eating plan that is best suited for you and tweak it according to your lifestyle. Most importantly eat until you are satisfied. Don't stuff yourself! By keeping your waistline slim and trim (portion control) you significantly reduce you risk of Heart Disease and Diabetes. Think about your future now.

Best wishes to all of you in 2005!
Nicole is featured in the March 2005 issue of Oxygen and the Spring 2005 issue of Ms. Fitness magazine, on stands now.


From Linda's Desk

The next time you enter the class I want you to fully acknowledge and accept, and even recite in your mind " this ones for me". It seems like todays life style demands over commitment, and over commitment becomes the expected and the bar raises and the process renews itself like a hurricane feeding off warm waters. In this class you can be totally self absorbed and it is a good thing. In fact your fitness goals should include variety which might require taking bold steps. Try different things, take a step class, do a power flex, spin on a cycle , go for a brisk walk. Recently, I found myself kind of in a fitness rut. Its hard to explain but the fix was mixing it up a bit. I might even try snow shoeing (yeah right!!)The bottom line is that fitness allows you to be totally self absorbed, you win every time, in fact in my Yoga class I want you to be totally self absorbed. You and you only get the reward. For the people who share time with me, and I truly do honor your energy.

Linda's 20 rules for being Yoga

1. Be totally and 100% focused on your breath and your body. We are all beginners
2. Don't force the connections that the poses influence and don't force the poses to influence a connection. Let it happen, we are all beginners.
3. Time spent looking at others on our time is time spent away from rule #1 and time deducted
from your time, remember.. "this ones for me".
4. Sometimes intensity overpowers enjoyment. If you go at something with too much passion you will not realize the fun that can occur along the way.


Namaste

Linda