2013 What we know

Processed foods are toxic. 

Coconut oil is a must. 

Grains and sugars are the culprits for weight gain and failed diets. 

Short but High intensity workouts far more beneficial than long cardio sessions. 

Meditation is not just for the yogi. 

Mood affects health. 

Consuming fat does NOT make you fat. 

There is good salt and poison salt. 

You need to eat to lose weight. 

Fibre keeps insulin levels down. 

Insulin stores fat.

Water increases metabolism and flushes toxins. 

Flossing your teeth affects heart health. 

......

Of course there is more. There will always be more. And the above list will be corrected and modified. What we can safely hang our hat on, is we need to eat food (stuff that does not require a commercial to advertise its benefits or have a sticker indicating 'nutrition' information). We need to keep active (the only time an exercise is not effective is when it is not done). 

Information in the form of articles, commercials, flyers, tweets, posts... Can be overwhelming. 

Simply... Eat food...Get moving. This is not new, but perhaps the reminder is warranted.

Bring on 2014!

Yours in real health and real fitness,

Sar (Jo:Moma )

www.jomoma.ca

Christmas ... The new health craze

Christmas is only days away, and if you don't celebrate Christmas I am hopeful you have something similar that provides you with the opportunity to relate with the feeling Christmas can give you. 

Cheer: The smile you unselfishly share with a stranger who is strapping a tree to his rusting civic. A warm greeting to your neighbour who is stuffing children and their excitement into the house. The cards, the phone calls, the emails you make/send wishing people a happy holiday. 

Generosity: Giving your time for FREE.  Be it delivering hampers, making phone calls for a charity, holding doors open, shovelling your neighbours driveway, baking cookies for the last day of school. 

Kindness:  Being considerate and helpful.  Carrying an elderly lady's groceries to her car.  Feeding somebody else's parking meter.  Having a conversation with a stranger.  

Hope/Positivity: The anticipation of something better.  The feeling that anything is possible. Seeing the silver lining in the darkest cloud (perhaps in the form of a garage ice-rink due to a burst waterline). 

'Christmas' does not have to be seasonal. It CAN last year round...and as luck would have it, you will be healthier for doing so.  You heard it here first! CHRISTMAS Pcross90fitX (or something catchy) now available!! FREE! Limited time only (NOT). 

The above Christmas feelings boil down to HAPPINESS. As it turns out, happiness can positively affect your health. Happy people tend to have healthier hearts and arteries. Recover more quickly from injury and have a higher threshold for pain. For the cost of a smile, a held door and a chat with the cashier you have improved your health and the health of those around you. 

Happy Christmas Everyone

Love Jo:Moma 

www.jomoma.ca

Don't punish yourself...Love yourself

Why do you work out? Is it because you want to look great in a pair of skinny jeans? Why do you decline that piece of candy offered to you? Is it because of that same pair of skinny jeans taunting you? Having dedication to exercise regularly and to resist treats is nothing short of impressive, when you do it out of love for yourself.  When you recognize that putting your body into motion has significant benefits...increased muscular strength, increased coordination, hormone stabilization... Then you are exercising because you love yourself. You are pushing around weights, running, swimming, planking, generally being active, because you WANT to feel better and be a better you. When you choose to forego the piece of candy, deep dish pizza, or ice cream sundae because you are not interested in the insulin spike or the bad fats that will wage war on the insides of your body, you do so out of love for yourself.  BUT when you workout because your sole purpose is to have thinner thighs for the pair of skinny jeans you purchased then you are punishing yourself. You will not look forward to the interval sprints on the treadmill.  You will instead dread the prospect of exercising. When you choose healthy dietary options solely to look better you have programmed your thoughts to categorize those foods as a punishment versus the ultimate treat you can give yourself...REAL FOOD. 

Workout and eliminate junk foods because you deserve to be a strong healthy you.  Love yourself, do not punish yourself. Loving yourself fits better than any pair of skinny jeans ever could. 

www.jomoma.ca

The Ol boys club

It seems the Ol' boys club has always been in existence. I am fairly certain there was not a single maiden seated at the round table with the knights...and such fraternities continue. Oddly, women who have historically and presently been treated less than equal, objectified, and demoralized have yet to band together to unite in a sisterhood. Why? It seems we (women) have a tendency to view each other as threats or competition, likely due to recognizing how powerful 'she' is. What we really ought to do is champion each other. So let us unite. Let us celebrate our strengths and differences. Our intuition, our love, and our power. We women are super heroes. We can grow people for heavens sake!!! I am not opposed to men having their brotherhood. Nor am I against female competition.  I am interested in support. Being each other's cheerleader, guide, crutch, and motivator. We know better than anyone what we need, so let's give it to each other. Let's kindle and be a fire that cannot be put out. 

www.jomoma.ca