Take Care,
Margo

Nutrition & Exercise Journal

If you are a past or current client of mine, you understand the value of making a written commitment on these two things. Putting your plan to paper, as in writing your exercise homework from me (if I didn’t hand it to you), solidifies your intention. It is cause in making you more likely to stick to it.

If you are on a weight management program, you understand the major value of writing on a food log sheet . You understand how seeing it in writing – what you consumed, and jotting your meal plans, helps keep you on track.

There isn’t enough space here for me to emphasize the value of committing to paper what your exercise intention for the week is, nor the value in weight management and well being of putting to paper what you are eating during the week.

Tip for the week: Write it down. Put it on your calendar “take 15 minute walk before work”. You will make time for it this way. Writing in the food log will be a HUGE value and major hindrance to “amnesia eating” and will lead to weight loss.

Take care,

Margo

This is the week where everyone is bringing candy and baked goods to work, the gym even (yes, I see instructors and trainers do this, it annoys me), as gifts from friends, and as hostess gifts to dinner parties,etc. MODERATION is key. What you see in my hand?  NOT moderation. I got this today, for FREE. It came as a gift with purchase, so to speak, and it is going right in my freezer (out of sight out of mind, remember that!!!).

Remember what I just said above: Out of Sight, Out of Mind. Keep sweets OFF of your kitchen countertop and off your desk. You will avoid that amnesia, unconscious nibbling if you do this. A few more tips:

1) Don’t have sweets on an empty stomach. Eat NORMALLY this week in particular, especially breakfast, so you are set up to be in good blood sugar, to help keep those cravings for sugar ‘in sight’ at bay.

2) Don’t skip lunch to “save calories” if you ate candy or baked goods mid morning. I digress, eat lunch to tame the sugar buzz from stuff you may have tried, so come later afternoon you don’t feel the enemy beckoning “eat me….c’mon…eat some more….”. SELF-CONTOL IS VERY DIFFICULT WHEN YOU ARE IN ‘BAD’ BLOOD SUGAR. EAT REGULAR FOOD, AND YOU WILL EAT LESS SUGARY STUFF.

3) Drink water. Sweets will make you thirsty, and thirst will feel like hunger (it’s mostly just thirst)

4) Last but not least. MODERATION. Have a holiday treat you love. Don’t eat stuff just because it’s there; be discriminating. But DO have it. Have what you love. A piece of cake. A cookie or two. A few candies. It won’t kill you, or throw off your weight loss if that is the goal. MODERATION. BE DISCRIMINATING. BE IN GOOD BLOOD SUGAR by not skipping regular healthy meals this week and next, and all will be just fine.

Take care,

Margo

Remember how lousy you feel every January because you are one of the ones who gained weight in November and December? Let this NOT be that year. Your stomach and body don’t know it’s “holiday season” so don’t take that fact out on your body this time. Thanksgiving really, is the one day.  All the days after are about feeling badly from the one day. It’s JUST ONE DAY of splurge. Okay, if it’s a few days for some of you, that’s still a blip on the radar screen of weeks or months of healthy new habits and new weight loss. Weight control is a process, not perfection. Enjoy the get togethers with friends and family; the next day eat properly again; move a bit more if you overdid, and realize that one day, or those few days, do not “blow everything” or all your hard work and new habits you acquired the weeks before. This is when you DECIDE. Not this year, I’m not going to drop it just because I had some fun. You didn’t “blow it”.

Like I said above, playtime’s over, back on track time. December can be a great month; it’s not too hot to exercise outdoors, the gyms are usually slower with people out shopping, traffic is easy with school breaks, so you have more time to focus on “watching it”.

Let THIS be the year you wake up January 1st and feel better from what you did in December. I’ll help you.

BACK ON TRACK, her too, sand play done!  

Warm regards,

Margo

Many of us experience difficulty in shopping for family and friends.  Another thing we all experience? Receiving gifts we will NEVER use.  A client of mine suggested I share this with you here. Spare friends and family the expen$e of giving you an unwanted gift. Instead, try what she did and suggest a Gift Certificate from One-on-One Personal Fitness Training! I do them every year for people surprising significant others or friends. They aren’t just for new people to get them started; it makes a great gift for someone already committed to fitness and health, who’d love to get one session, or a week of sessions or more, as a holiday gift.  I can mail it or you can pick it up! What better gift to give someone then an investment in their health and well being.

May I also suggest the following gift ideas! A book about the food industry to fascinate and educate, “In Defense of Food” or “The 5 Day Miracle Diet” a book about ending cravings and eating for life long health.

GIVE A BOOK TO YOUR READER FRIENDS!!!!

Another great fitness gift idea is exercise bands! They’re affordable, fun, light, easy to store, and work great for body strengthening and toning, and travel easily!  

Last but not least, for the beginner walker to hard core runner, give them a “Polar” brand heart rate watch and strap for keeping track of their heart rate perpetually, and to track time and exercise intensity!

All these are great gifts that show you care not only about  them, but their health and well being too!  Hope these  ideas help make your shopping easier!

Take care,

Margo

I like it for stability and balance work, and the fact it allows you to jump without hard impact. I’m still a fan of hard impact; yet many of my clients have varying reasons why they may need to reduce or eliminate hard impact, and this rebounder is a great alternative.  And fun.

The model I have also comes with workout bands that attach to the sides so you can do arms, shoulders, etc, while standing and/or bouncing. It also comes with a detachable handle bar (shown in the photo above) to hold onto for security and balance, or as a tool when lifting one leg or for sitting and working abs, etc.  Lots of options!!!!  And fun (did I say that already?)

I love the Rebounder for burning calories, jogging without hard impact, twisting and jumping jacks and squats, abs and more. I think it’s effective, beneficial in too many ways to list, (and lots of fun). The DVD’s that come with are a hoot, and great for novice to advanced.

Take care,

Margo

Lay down first, as shown here, holding for a few seconds and taking some deep breaths to RELAX removing tension.  Turn head to one side; arms beside your body.

Now place your elbows below your shoulders leaning on forearms. Hold this for a couple minutes and take deep breaths to RELAX low back muscles.

Only after these two above, commence by pressing yourself up to straighten your elbows, RELAXING your torso, pelvis and legs allowing yourself to sag. Hold for a second or two, lower and repeat several times. You may maintain the up position longer, if any discomfort starts to wane, and low back starts to relax.

In the event you are unable to lay down where you are, do this standing back extension; although it may not be as effective as laying down, it will absolutely help. It is also effective in the prevention of further low back issues. Keep knees straight, feet slightly apart, maintain backbend for a moment or two then repeat going further to maximum degree.

Take care of your back, and it will take care of you!

Warm regards,

Margo

Stationary Bike & Treadmill

and Stairmaster

This is an easy answer without going into all the detail of the different mechanics of each one, OR the calories each burns, OR which is best depending on your state of injuries or lack thereof. The simple answer to which one is best?

THE ONE THAT YOU WILL DO!!!

Obviously, you may not all have access to this equipment, in which case you can guess what I’ll say, right? Head outside and propel yourself by walking or jogging. It’s nice and cool with the new rain and cooler temps.  It’s because of the heavy rain the last couple of days I decided to toss these indoor alternatives out there, and surmised some of you would wonder which is “best”. I digress, the one that you will do is best, or even a combo by splitting your time between two different ones.

Enjoy the cooler temps!

Regards,

Margo

Warm regards, Margo