Thursday, July 16, 2009

Drop That Donut!!



Lose Abdominal Fat and Improve Health

A Weight Management Program You Can Live With


This is one of many I found online I was thinking of using for my weight management marketing.

funnytogo.com/pictures/donuts/donuts8.jpg

Studies have shown that abdominal fat increases health risks. Sensible eating and physical activity is a key to stay healthy and reduce morbility. We can really save ourselves if we can just walk away from the crime scene!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

gimme some of that power cheesy puffs

Health Canada wants to allow food manufacturers to add nutrients to variety of foods, including junk food. This proposal has already worried many health care experts because this creates a perfect opportunity for junk food industry to market their products as "healthy alternatives".

I have talked to many people who couldn't differentiate "healthy eating" and "smart marketing". I talked to someone once who thought a muffin for breakfast is better than a slice of whole wheat toast with peanut butter or chicken wings are better than a grilled lean steak. Fast food companies can relate cartoon characters to their products so kids would want to eat their oil-laden chicken nuggets. Snack companies are using advertising to make their junk food products look "cool" to attract younger generation, particularly the "tween"group.

It's our responsibility as parents to educate our kids and to set good examples when it comes to healthy eating. Don't expect the kids to like broccoli if the parents make faces eating it. It is not fine to pack a bag of cheesy puffs with a candy bar for kids' lunch.

I guess soon enough we can at least say that kids are getting some vitamins out of this bag of cheesy puffs.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

The "D" Day (Part 2)

It's now the end of the day and I have just finished my dinner portion. This morning I put cucumber, celery, cilantro,a tablespoon of lemon juice and a cup of filtered water in the blender and made a green drink for breakfast. My lunch and dinner consist the same veggies, plus some radish slices and hemp hearts. I made a dressing with extra virgin olive oil, raw apple cider vinegar and a touch of Ms. Dash (dried herbs). I snacked on almonds, grapes and clementines. I drank 4 cups of green tea through out the day, and lots of water.

I tried to eat mostly alkaline foods through out the day, and super clean. I felt great this morning after my green drink, but I noticed the need for caffeine. I started to crave meat and carb around 6pm, I wanted a big bowl of Vietnamese beef noodle soup. I wonder if this is a sign of not getting enough protein and carb. I also felt a little "spacey", not drowsy, just spacey around 6pm, but felt better after I ate the dinner. It's probably the result that my caloric intake is less than half of my usual daily intake. My 12-hour work day is going well so far. I never felt hungry, and no mood swings.

Did my "Anti-detox" detox work? I can't say. It is not a diet, but it's very different from what most people is used to. It can be easily done once a week, but I rather incorporate all the goodness of the alkaline foods into my own eating routine. I still believe the 80/20 rule, that is if you eat well 80% of the time, you can enjoy what you like 20% of the time. If I to do this again, I will add some lean protein such as chicken breast or fish and maybe a whole grain carb source. I'll keep my morning coffee for sure.

The "D" Day (Part 1)

I have this "detox" idea for a while. Not that I eat bad. We eat very little processed and packaged food. Most of our diets are relative clean and healthy, lots of veggies and fruits. I don't smoke, and I don't drink alcohol or soft drinks regularly. So why this "detox", you ask? Well, it's kind of my experiment on how much "better" I feel if I eat "super clean".

There are lots of talks about eating alkaline foods and keep the body pH balanced. I also read some theories from medical doctors that alkalinity is not a "magic cure" for disease. While all those raw food gurus are trying to sell you their 2 cents on their websites, the concept is not a secret. If you eat clean and healthy, you will feel good. Period.

So I come up with this "anti-detox" detox. I allow myself as much veggies and fruits (mostly alkaline) as I can possibly eat, plus almonds and hemp hearts as protein sources. I eliminate my daily coffee and switch to green tea and filtered water. No dairy, no animal protein, no egg, no sugar, no starch. I dress the veggies with raw apple cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and dried herbs.

I will go over the detail of my anti-detox journey in Part 2 of the blog. Other than the lack of caffeine I am feeling great so far. I am not starving by any mean. I'll be back, gotta go eat my veggies now.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

"No Boot" Camp for Fitness Beginners


Our spring fitness camp for beginners is finally here! This is a great chance for people who want to start a exercise program and learn the basics of fitness. It is NOT a "boot camp", but do expect some serious workouts. It will be held at the Cowen Park soccer field off Hwy 59 and Hwy 17, northwest of Woodstock.
I am offering two spring sessions. The first session starts on Tuesday, May 5th at 6:15am, and goes on every Tuesday and Thursday until May 28th. It will be a twice-a-week class for 4 weeks. It costs $120 per person. The second session starts on June 2nd until June 25th.
A special Saturday trail session is offered only to registered campers for an extra $60 per person for the 4-week duration. Registration deadline is May 1st for the first spring session, and only 16 spots left! Register now and enjoy the workout!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Music Does Body Good!

Over the weekend I was playing with an idea of putting a music playlist on my blog. I compiled a list of my favorite songs from 80's and 90's and named the list "Remember These?". You probably have already noticed it on the right side of my blog.
I love music, and my music taste goes all over the board. From jazz to rock to hip hop to classical, I can always find something to listen to. I can't find a better way to get through a tough workout without the ear piercing heavy metal or heart thumping Italo disco.
Study has shown that music can enhance endurance by 15%. One significant new finding is that music can help exercisers to feel more positive even when they are working out at a very high intensity – close to physical exhaustion. New research also suggests that working out to music may give exercisers a cognitive boost.
Turn it up and get jiggy with it!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

I drink lots of water....couple of glasses a day...

I often ask people coming to me for advise " how much water do you drink?" 9 out of 10 would answer "I drink lots of water". After further investigation I find that "lots of water" usually means one or two glasses a day, far from the recommended 8 to 10 glasses.
Sometimes I wonder if their "illnesses" or "problems" are caused by dehydration. Water, in my opinion, is the most important nutrient and very underrated. The human body is about 60% water. It is involved in all our bodily functions. It also maintains our body temperature, flushes out toxins, and transports nutrients to our cells. When you are dehydrated, you may feel weak, lightheaded, dizzy, nauseated, confused, your sweat may stop, your heart may race, your skin may feel less elastic, and your muscle may cramp. Breathing requires water. We use water even just sitting on the couch. The recommended 8-glass intake is just enough for maintaining our bodily function. If you only drink about a quarter of what we are supposed to, your body can not and will not function properly. Can you imagine if you only drink a glass or two on a daily basis?
Cheers!

"Up Your Metabolism!"

I am planning a weight management workshop titled "Up Your Metabolism!" proposed to be scheduled in May. It will be held at the Woodstock Public Library, and the seating is limited. Now it's a great time for you to pre-register before the spaces run out. Simply send me an email at aah.wellness@gmail.com for detail. I have not decided on how much the admission is, but probably will run between $15-20 per person. It will be a very informative workshop. We are going to talk about how you can boost your metabolism by eating the right food and what slows it down. We also will go over the basics of nutrition. The workshop may run about 2 hours. The exact date of the workshop will be announced shortly. I'll keep you posted.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Considering a healthier lifestyle? All About Health can help!

Welcome to my blog! Hopefully you can find the information you are looking for here. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Lee and I am the Executive Director of All About Health, Wellness Consulting. I have worked in the health care field for over 15 years (18 years, if I count in my volunteer experience in high school), and 10 years in the fitness field. I am a full-time pharmacist and a part-time personal trainer, but I am all about health! I play an integrated role of bridging the two fields, educating many people on how to manage their health conditions through medications and lifestyle modefication.
It is my passion to share information with you that can improve your health and quality of life. Please feel free to leave a comment or send me an email at aah.wellness@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you.