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There is a new weapon in the war against obesity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made its National Nutrient Database free for download onto handheld personal digital assistants (PDAs). “Easy access to nutrient information on thousands of foods provides a new tool to help consumers follow a healthy diet,” said Secretary of Agriculture…
Read MoreAs more and more schools offer hot dogs, pizza and nachos for lunch, conscientious parents are seeking more nutritious alternatives for their kids. Packing healthy lunches can be the solution, but the task has to be quick and easy for time-crunched adults. Furthermore, the meals must be kid-friendly. If your clients include concerned parents, overweight children or both, pass along these tips from registered dietitian Nancy Teas of San Diego.
Read MoreYou’ve heard all about the dangers of being overweight and how exercise can help, but you just can’t seem to get motivated, because it seems so strenuous! The good news is that even a small amount of exercise can make a big difference. Physical activity contributes to weight loss, especially when it is combined with…
Read MoreOur job is to find ways to reach out to these back-row participants while still giving our seasoned students what they have come to expect. Here are some proven practical strategies that can help you extend a hand to even the most timid participants. ‰ Supplement to November-December 2002 IDEA Health & Fitness Source
Read MoreAt the 2002 World Fitness IDEA® convention, held this past summer in San Diego, the hot topic among attendees was teaching older adults. As all of this year’s IDEA award recipients emphasized in their acceptance remarks, not only is it cool and fun to teach the older-adult population, but it’s prudent as well. With the baby boomer wave cresting, teaching older adults really is an investment in your own future!
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o you have–or want to avoid–high cholesterol? Last year, when the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued new criteria for categorizing cholesterol levels as healthy or unhealthy, many more Americans suddenly found themselves in the high-cholesterol category. The good news is that exercise can help. Fitness experts Chantal A. Vella, MS, and Len Kravitz, PhD, of the University …
Read MoreQ:My director knows our studio microphone is broken and agrees we need to fix it right away. She says she has requested a repair. Yet 3 weeks have elapsed, and nothing
has been resolved. Meanwhile, my voice
is shot. If I refuse to teach until the mike is repaired, I will be considered a problem instructor. But if I continue to teach without a mike, my voice will suffer even more. What should I do?
By providing sound direction, good food sources and a nurturing environment, parents can help ensure that teens make healthy dietary decisions now and develop good eating habits that last a lifetime. To offer your teens optimal support with their nutrition, use these tips from Jenna A. Bell-Wilson, MS, RD, LD, consultant for New Mexico Sports and Wellness in Albuquerque and Southwest C.A.R.E. Center in Santa Fe.
Read MoreYou want to exercise regularly, but you keep encountering roadblocks—those persuasive excuses you come up with for not sticking to your plan. To make exercise part of your life, you need to identify your roadblocks and find ways to move beyond them. Sherri McMillan, MSc, co-owner of Northwest Personal Training & Fitness Education in Vancouver, Washington, and 1998 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, offers some help:
Read MoreEvery day, fitness professionals are faced with a multitude of questions—on topics ranging from losing weight to rehabilitating injuries. While it is difficult to know all the answers, providing clients with ready responses can be a testament to your professional credibility. This article addresses some of the more popular questions clients ask and provides the information you need to answer them quickly.
Read MoreWho doesn’t love the aroma of food cooking on the grill on a warm summer night? Or how about that little boost you get when you reach for your favorite, well-seasoned cast-iron skillet? But did you know that certain cooking methods and pots and pans can actually diminish the nutrients you get from those meals you so painstakingly prepare?
Read MoreQ:What do you say or do when two (or more!) people in your class keep talking during the workout? These magpies are nice people, but they have no clue how irritating their conversation is to everyone else in the room. What can I do to retain class control without looking like a control freak?
Read MoreYou probably know that problems can occur when you combine different drugs or use certain drugs in conjunction with certain foods. Yet are you aware that a wide variety of commonly used drugs—including prescription, over-the-counter and herbal products—can affect your response to exercise, potentially increasing your risk of injury? Discover how to stay safe using these tips from Carol Krucoff, coauthor of Healing Moves: How to Cure, Relieve and Prevent Common Ailments With Exercise (Harmony Books, 2000).
Read MoreA new study indicates that older women who consume too much vitamin A may increase their risk of hip fracture. Researchers found that women with the highest total intake of vitamin A, from both fortified food and multivitamin supplements, had double the risk of hip fracture compared to women with the lowest intake. The study appeared in the January 2, 2002, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Read MoreSomething is amiss in our industry. Despite constant confirmation that physical activity improves health, our population is getting less and less fit. According to retention and adherence expert Rod Dishman, PhD, head of the exercise psychology lab at the University of Georgia, exercise habits haven’t changed much in the past 15 years. Dishman’s research indicates that 50 percent of new exercisers still drop out within six months of starting
Read MoreFor many women, menopause is uncomfortable. Drops in estrogen levels can trigger mood swings, hot flashes, weight gain, sleep loss or fatigue. Menopause is also associated with an increased risk for osteoporosis and heart disease. The good news? Research shows that exercise can help. Karen Bram, a fitness professional in Gainesville, Florida, lists some good reasons to work out during this life stage and offers tips on how to approach an exercise program.
Read MoreIt used to be that food was our sole source of vitamins and minerals. Today, nutrients can be obtained by consuming all kinds of supplements and a wide range of fortified foods, from cereals and juices to breads and energy bars. With all these choices at hand, it can get tricky figuring out how much…
Read MoreFebruary 2002 idea health & fitness sourceDoes my BMI really matter? Will I be able to lose the weight I gained during my pregnancy? How do I know if the supplements I’m taking really do what the packaging says they will do?
Read MoreStudies have shown that seven out of 10 people who start an exercise program drop out within a few months. One problem is that most people jump into exercise without doing any planning up front. They’re just not prepared for the commitment involved. Are you ready to make exercise part of your lifestyle?
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IDEA Fitness Journal
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December 2019
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