Fitness on Holiday?
December 11, 2009 by Ozzie Jacobs
Filed under Fitness Articles, Fitness Blog
During the holiday season it is very easy to put your fitness goals on the back burner. This is understandable given the numerous obligations one faces during the holidays such as gift shopping, preparing for the in-laws, cooking, cleaning and the list goes on.
How does one incorporate fitness on a “to-do list” that seems insurmountable?
Take it one day at a time!
Each evening plan out your day. List the tasks that you’d like to get done and make sure that you schedule a time for fitness. Staying in shape should not take a break during the holiday season but it certainly will if you don’t include it on your “to-do list”. Develop a general idea of how you’ll continue to include healthy eating habits into your day (this may mean packing a lunch or knowing where the healthy restaurants are in your neighborhood).
Keep your eye on the prize!
After the family fun of the holiday season, the New Year’s celebration is just around the corner. Wouldn’t it be great to look hot and sexy as you bring in 2010?
It starts today!
No one is perfect and there will be days when you “fall of the wagon” with your fitness pursuits but each evening evaluate your progress, identify things you can improve and take action.
Check out the following videos for some fitness ideas:
The Pros and Cons of Dieting
August 9, 2009 by Ozzie Jacobs
Filed under Fitness Articles, Fitness Blog
The word diet is defined as “a particular selection of food, as designed or prescribed to improve a person’s physical condition or to prevent or treat a disease”. In this context the word diet doesn’t seem so bad but in reality most people view a diet as a significant restriction of calories and the denial of your favorite foods. 
A diet is beneficial toward the reduction of weight and body fat. It can play a major role in one’s risk for hypertension, diabetes and fatigue (among other things). Generally, the diet is designed to help one achieve a healthier lifestyle.
A diet goes wrong when it deprives the individual of foods and experiences that they desire. Adherence to a strict diet can prevent a person from indulging in their favorite foods, enjoying dinner with friends and can even lead to an individual falling off the wagon (when the temptation becomes too great).
Healthy eating habits should be a part of everyone’s “to do” list. When strategically designed, a diet can be manageable, enjoyable and sustainable. In fact, when identifying the best “diet” for you it is important to choose a healthy eating program that you can incorporate into your life for the long haul. Incorporating a long-term eating plan prevents the” yo-yo” phenomena in which you lose weight only to gain it back once the diet is over.
A sensible diet will traditionally incorporate a balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Recruiting the assistance of a nutritionist or dietitian can be a useful tool to develop a meal plan that can strategically incorporate some of your favorite foods without disrupting your caloric requirements.
—————————
If you enjoyed this article, you’ll love the following:
Train (Like an athlete): The diet
Exercise: To cope
April 30, 2009 by Ozzie Jacobs
Filed under Fitness Articles, Fitness Blog
When headlines are worrisome and news of bankrupt corporate giants are plastered on the television and internet, where can we turn to find peace??? 
The answer is movement, movement can be your sanctuary. Before there were mortgages, interest rates and stock exchanges we survived. We were hunters and gatherers that found joy as we danced to a beat or enjoyed a foot race through the field.
It is time to use the tools of our ancestors to rejuvenate ourselves and embrace the fact that we can find joy, strength and purpose within these economic times.
Use exercise as your healing tool.
- As we exercise we release tension and stress, we find our “center” and press the “reset” button. In a way exercise allows us to wipe the slate clean and begin the rest of the day with a positive outlook.
Use exercise to develop the strength to persevere.
- Exercise is an obstacle, it is a challenge that requires you to “rise to the occasion”. Through this process we develop tenacity and drive, developing these skills in the weight room can help you to successfully navigate through the stressful times in your life.
Check out the following fitness videos to help you use movement as your outlet:
Status check: How to track your fitness progress
April 21, 2009 by Ozzie Jacobs
Filed under Fitness Blog, Fitness Videos
Ozzie Jacobs, Health and Fitness Expert, gives you insight on how to effectively track your fitness progress!
Savasana: Peace in troubled times
April 15, 2009 by Ozzie Jacobs
Filed under Fitness Articles, Fitness Blog
Savasana is a yoga pose that can be a soothing journey for the body but a difficult expedition for a defiant mind. 
Lay down on your back. Allow your arms to rest at your side, far enough from the body so that the chest and armpits open while the neck and upper back release effortlessly into the floor. Extend your legs straight onto the floor, far enough apart to allow the lower back to release, legs to roll open evenly and inner thighs to soften. Lengthen the neck, drawing the shoulder blades away from the ears. Relax the hands and feet completely. Soften the eyes, jaw, tongue and throat. Close your eyes and inhale gently, with each exhalation relax the body even further as you become one with the earth beneath you.
Savasana is the practice of letting go; stilling the mind of distractions, fears and sorrow. Throughout our days we become a slave to our thoughts, to our expectations, to our skewed perceptions of ourselves. We become caught up in the events of today and yesterday thus carrying an ever-increasing burden of stress and pain. This takes its toll on our body and mind. Savasana gives us a moment to release and free ourselves of these burdens. It allows us to start again renewed, refreshed and revitalized. It allows us to realize that we can have a clean slate if we allow our minds to leave the past behind.
For more info, check out the following Yoga videos:
