Is Soda Really the Enemy?

When I was younger I loved soda, I would drink it at least once a day if not more. My older sister was on her high school crew team at the time and there coach told them to cut out soda because it was bad for their muscles. She did and I decided to follow suit. I was a competitive dancer so I figured if it was not good for her muscles it could not be good for mine either. Within two weeks of cutting out all soda I had drooped 5lbs! I wasn't trying to lose weight and I hadn't even noticed it until one of the girls in my dance class pointed out how good I looked. That was 15 years ago. I wont lie, on occasion I do still enjoy a soda but they are few and far between. I try to stick with healthier options like water and green tea. Below is a list of 10 reasons why you should cut soda out of YOUR diet.

10 REASONS NOT TO DRINK SODA!

1.) Soda is high in calories and sugar and low in nutrients

2.) 50% higher risk of getting metabolic syndrome, a forerunner to diabetes and risk factor for heart disease.

3.) Soda is high in sodium and caffeine which increases your blood pressure.

4.) Scientists believe that when you taste something sweet it triggers you to want more sweets.

5.) Soda depletes your calcium which leads to osteoporosis and bone disease.

6.) Soda is a Diuretic: meaning it will dehydrate your body. Drinking soda will actually

dehydrate you more than it will hydrate your body.

7.) Drinking soda can switch off parts of your DNA which can lead to premature aging and even Parkinson's

8.) Drinking large amounts of soda can lead to obesity.

9.) Drinking soda can lead to tooth decay

10.) You drink soda, It makes you burp (acid reflux, actually),The burping carries acid into the esophagus, causing lesions, The lesions become cancerous. (Research is still out on this but lets keep our eyes on it)

COUNTING YOUR STEPS:

Little things can sometimes make a big difference. A little thing that you can do to up your activity level each day, is count your steps. A step-counting pedometer works by pure psychology: once you quantify how far you’re walking, running or hiking, you’ll be that much more motivated to increase your activity. Discover a little gadget that can make a big difference in the way you exercise.

A pedometer can range from $10 for the most basic up to $200 for a much more sophisticated watch that tracks everything from steps to heart-rate and calorie burned.



A great pedometer is the Omron HJ-112 Pedometer

This one gos for $30. For more pedometer reviews go to... http://walking.about.com/od/measure/tp/pedometer.htm

P3 Walks for the Cure

P3 Walks to Cure Breast Cancer!!!

I’ve committed to participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. It’s a big commitment, one that will require me to spend the next several months training and fundraising. But breast cancer is a big disease, one that still affects far too many people, and I’m determined to do everything I can to help put an end to it. The money I raise will be managed and disbursed by the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade to help provide access to care for those that most need it, fund educational programs, and accelerate research into new treatments and potential cures. I’ll be just one of thousands of people that will walk up to a marathon and a half over a weekend, raising awareness of the cause and educating even more people. I can’t do it without your help.

Though I’m required to raise at least $1,800 in donation, I plan to raise much more! My goal is to raise $10,000! I know it is a LOT of money but I believe that I can do it. I hope that I can count on your support.

This disease affects thousands of people each year. Three women near and dear to me have been affected by breast cancer. These are the women that I walk for. My Aunt Val, a survivor who is a true inspiration. She has totally changed her lifestyle and is living cancer free. My Mother-in-law Connie. A beautiful woman with a beautiful spirit, she has fought and won! My best friends mother Harriet, a truly determined woman. Not only has she fought breast cancer and won she changed her lifestyle and lost over 100lbs.These women are my inspiration and motivation but there are so many more out there who have been affected. It is my privilege to walk for all of you, to make a little difference and to hopefully inspire others to walk as well.

You can make a donation to my fundraising campaign at the Avon website. Go to http://www.avonwalk.org/, enter in my name (Autumn Guzman) and then click donate. If you prefer to write a check, just contact me and I'll send you the information and form. As I prepare for this exciting event, I plan to update this page frequently so that all my supporters can follow my progress, so please visit often.

Thank you in advance.

ONE MORE THING:
I plan to use my fitness knowledge and experience not only to walk but to raise the money for this event. I will be holding different fitness related events to help me raise the money. Please check the blog frequently for updated events.

I am having a special T-shirt made for the day of the walk. On the back will be all of the people I am walking for. If you know someone who has been affected by breast cancer, please make a donation and then send me an email with their name and I will add it to the back of my shirt!

A Bit of Inspiration

REDEFINE THE IMPOSSIBLE:

Intense desire not only creates its own possibilities, but its own talents. Don't be afraid to do something just because it's impossible.
Kobi Yamada

HELP! My Stomach Muscles Have Separated

Ok today's post is for all of my mommies out there. I received an email yesterday from a woman asking me what she can do for her separated stomach muscles, this is a common problem for women who have had children so I would like to give a little advice on it. Diastasis recti: This is the formal name for abdominal separation. During pregnancy the vertical mid line of the abdominal wall softens and stretches around your growing belly, this may cause it to separate. This usually happens in the second or third trimester and is painless so if you don't check for it you probably will not know it has happened.

If you feel a separation, you need to change your workout to put less strain on the abdomen's, and do your abdominal exercises differently to prevent a larger separation. You don't have to stop exercising all together however if the separation is more than two and one-half inches, seek medical advice.

Most of the time the separation will fix it self after you deliver.

To Check for Diastasis recti: Lay on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. Place your first and second fingers just above your bellybutton. Lift the head, neck and shoulders off of the ground and feel for a separation in the abdominal wall.

Abdominal exercises:

Do a plank: you want to start on your hands and knees. Pull your bellybutton into your spine and come up on to your toes so that you are in a flat line on your hands and toes. Hold the position for 15 sec-1min.

Crunches with your feet on the floor.

Bicycles: are good as well but if your stomach muscles are not to strong yet start with a modified bicycle. Lay on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Put your hands behind your head with your elbows out to the side, lift your right knee into your chest and cross your left elbow over toward it, put the right foot back on the ground and repeat with the other side.