I'm always surprised with the new terms that women make up for their problem areas.
Before I even begin to answer their question, I have one of my own. Do you do any weight training? Most often the answer is no. Unfortunately, this is because many women fear that weight training will bulk them up. (Cake and ice cream bulk you up - not weight training!) Women also tend to be unfamiliar with weight training exercises and, therefore, just avoid them.
The misconceptions and uncertainty that women have about weight training is keeping them from experiencing the remarkable health, fitness and even weight loss benefits that it offers!
Let's start with weight training for weight loss. Did you know that if you add more muscle tone to your body, you will increase your metabolism? It's true!
The more muscle tone you have, the more calories you burn all day long - even when you are not exercising.
In addition to revving up your metabolism, weight training has several health benefits. Research has found that weight training can increase spinal bone mineral density by 13% in six months - proving to be a powerful tool against osteoporosis. Other studies have shown promising results indicating that weight training can ease arthritis pain, strengthen joints and alleviate low back pain by strengthening low back muscles.
Finally, weight training keeps us strong. As we age, we lose more than a half a pound of muscle every year after age 25. Decreased strength effects mobility and our ability to perform daily tasks. Weight training combats the aging process by improving our physical performance abilities.
The benefits of weight training are far greater than what most women expect. It is a forgotten component in many exercise plans. If you want to feel better, look better and combat the aging process, pick up the weight…you may even take some off!
Do you want to sculpt, tone, tighten and define a problem area? Give us a call and get a free, personalized program. Offer expires June 30, 2009.
Putting the right foods into our bodies is a daily struggle. Fast food drive-throughs and all-you-can-eat buffets lurk on every corner. Fat, salt and sugar have been added to almost every package on the shelf at the grocery store. Grabbing a bag of chips or a can of soda at the convenience store is certainly a lot easier than peeling an orange or tossing a salad.
You've heard it all your life: "Eat more fruits and vegetables." Now, medical science is telling you, too. But knowing is easy. It's doing it that's hard.
People often turn to vitamins and other nutritional supplements to improve their diets. Unfortunately, vitamins alone can't begin to replicate the thousands of different nutrients found in fresh fruits and vegetables. You see, Americans don't suffer from a vitamin deficiency; we suffer from a whole food deficiency. And this deficiency is creating health problems of epic proportions for young and old alike.
Experts agree: the best way to reduce your risk of disease is to eat healthier. Almost every day, another piece of research or another news story touts the disease-fighting power of our dietary choices - especially the benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables.
Whether it's a new vitamin, an antioxidant, or some other phytonutrient not yet "discovered" by science, fruits and vegetables contain an unparalleled array of nutritional elements that offer protection for our bodies - nutrition that we simply can't get from vitamin pills. And, the thousands of nutrients found in fruits and vegetables work together in ways that science is just beginning to explore.
The message is clear: we need more of the healthful whole food nutrition of fruits and vegetables in our diets, every day. It's the one thing everyone agrees we can do to improve our health and reduce our risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and cancer.
What was even more amazing is that he had no dental needs (aside from a simple cleaning). He did not have one cavity, his existing fillings looked good, he did not have signs of gum (periodontal) disease - nothing! He was a very lucky man who obviously has some genetic or biologic resistance to gum disease and decay.
Most of us are not that lucky. After a comprehensive exam, most people have an extensive treatment plan when they have gone without dental care for several years. Quite often, dentists have to make recommendations for their patient's care that cost thousands and take months of time to complete. Without constant maintenance, our teeth and gums can go downhill, some more rapidly than others.
Gum (periodontal) disease starts with plaque accumulation in the mouth. Once the plaque calcifies to the tooth, then called tartar or calculus, it cannot be removed except by a professional. The contact with plaque, tartar, and the associated bacteria cause the gums and bone supporting the teeth to recede. This is a very slow process which causes no pain initially, so most people are unaware that the disease is progressing. By the time there is pain and loose teeth, the process is in the latter stages. At this point, drastic action must be taken to save the teeth. These drastic measures usually mean surgical intervention, discomfort, higher costs and time. Most would want to avoid this if possible and it is easy to do with regular professional care.
Decay is another problem that many people are unaware of when it is in the early stages.
These small cavities quite often do not hurt at all, they usually cannot be seen and most people do not know that they are there. Dentists use x-rays (radiographs) to visualize the decay that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Once decay is visible and obvious, it is usually quite large. Dentists try to catch decay before it has gotten to this state. When cavities are restored early, they are smaller, easier to treat, and treatment results in less loss of tooth structure. When cavities get large, more than 50% of the tooth, the tooth may require a crown. A tooth with a large filling is very susceptible to cracking and breaking - the bigger the filling, the weaker the tooth. We use crowns to give the tooth more strength. Crowns are a costly restoration and if the decay can be caught early, it results in easier and cheaper treatment.
Most people do not have a natural resistance to periodontal disease and decay. We need to have regular check-ups to catch problems when they are small. Some patients need to have their teeth professionally cleaned twice a year, although many more will require more frequent cleanings. Most people should have radiographs to check for decay and bone loss once a year, although some people require less. Every person is different and the recommendations for you may be drastically different from what is recommended for your other family members. Your dentist will tailor a program of treatment guidelines based on your individual needs.