The excuses that most people use for not exercising is that they are either too busy, or they are too tired. But the fact is that when you do add exercise to your daily routine, you will find that you have a lot more energy — and you will feel less lethargic. After exercise, you look refreshed and your skin has a healthy glow. You feel more in control of your life, and you will have more self-respect and higher self-esteem.
Many exercise coaches say that you should aim for 30 minutes exercise three times a week but many people that I have helped find that doing a little every day is better. It is a fact of modern life that we need exercise to maintain a healthy body. It is not vanity, it is common sense to keep the body mobile, fit, and free from disease.
Just 20 minutes every day can also be a great toner. If your body is starting to droop south, you can change that. You can have it moving back north in a matter of weeks! A friend who was worried that her arms were getting flabby bought a rowing machine and after just 6 weeks she had beautifully toned arms that she was proud to show off.
Taking exercise balances the body’s energy flow.
Recipe of the Week
Chicken Teriyaki
Serves 6
Ingredients
3 chicken breasts, whole, split in half
180 ml soy sauce
1-1/2 tbsp sugar
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3/4 tsp. ground ginger
Method
Arrange chicken, skin side up, in a single layer in a shallow dish. Combine soy sauce, sugar, garlic, and ginger in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake vigorously and pour over chicken. Marinate in refrigerator 2 hours, turning once or twice. Preheat broiler. Remove chicken from marinade. Spray rack in broiler pan with vegetable spray. Transfer chicken to rack. Broil about 10 minutes about 15 cm from heat, turning once and basting with marinade.
Slimming Lifestyle
All Fats Are Not Equal
Some of the fats we avoid in our diets may actually help us to have a leaner body and better immune system. Whole milk, cheese, steak, and even ice cream contain fats that boost our health. What makes these fats healthy is a compound called CLA, or ‘conjugated linoleic acid’. CLA is an essential fatty acid that can help prevent cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. CLA occurs naturally in cows raised in pastures. However, the compound is greatly diminished in products produced from grain-fed cows. Experts advise us to think twice before eliminating these foods entirely from our diets and to supplement our diets with other foods containing CLA, using my Healthy Eating Guide as a guideline. Get the guide by emailing [email protected]
Ask Alva
A pediatrician has been warning us that our eight-year-old daughter is becoming obese. She weighs 42 kilos and is 134 centimeters tall. There is nothing that we have not tried. We have tried increasing her activity level and all the food that is in the fridge is only low-fat variety. She seems to be heavier and heavier and I am so lost as to how I can help her. My daughter is now able to understand why we always restrict her from chocolates, cakes and fizzy drinks and she only has them in moderation when she goes to birthday parties. She does a variety of activities. Twice a week she goes for dance, once a week for tennis and three times a week for swimming. Please help us to help our child to slim down. Maha Junaibi
My first reaction to your letter is to wonder why your pediatrician thinks that your daughter is overweight! Her BMI measurement is actually 23, which means that her weight falls well within the normal range for a healthy young girl. Sure, she could be a little lighter, but as long as she is following a healthy diet and taking plenty of exercise, I do not see her weight as a problem. You seem to be doing all of the right things, and I would urge you to keep her healthy and to stop worrying. Alva
For all your weight concerns and questions e-mail Alva Carpenter at:
Selected letters will be replied to in this column.