DIETLICIOUS BATTLING THE BULGE ONE MEAL AT A TIME

January 3, 2013 By

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

IN-DEPTH NEWS FEATURE:

Longer working hours and family demands are seeing many Australian’s finding less time to prepare healthy, nutritious meals. Obesity is escalating and Australia is quickly moving to the forefront as the fattest nation in the world as we consume more burgers and less fruit and vegetables.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) states that more than 2 million Australians want to work less hours. While the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) reports that some 48 percent of men and 58 percent of women feel rushed or pressured for time in family situations.

However, what is even more alarming is that the ABS report that some 40 percent of Australians do not eat any fruit or vegetables and a further 35 percent eat only one serving daily. Fast food, it seems, has become a way of life for many Australians, who spend more than $37 billion a year on takeaway.

Dietlicious Looking to Combat Obesity

In an effort to help Australian’s eat healthier and to combat the escalating obesity crisis, Janel Horton, a qualified chef, created Dietlicious, a gourmet solution to healthy dieting options for busy Australians. Horton, who has studied adult and paediatric nutrition, has been in the food industry for 20-years and says the Dietlicious concept was born because she wants to help stop obesity.

“I had been aware of the growing issue of obesity for a couple of years and was experimenting with how we could offer really tasty meals that offered weight loss,” said Horton. “During this time so many customers encouraged us as they wanted the same Gourmet Dinner Service quality, but for weight loss,” she said.

The concept took off says Horton, as the Gourmet Dinner Service, a healthy food service for busy people, already had a strong reputation.

“The Gourmet Dinner Service was well established and well versed in cooking and delivering meals,” said Horton. “We already offered nutritional information for all our meals so the only difference was the portion sizes and selecting the healthiest meals,” she said.

Dietlicious is a Celebrity Healthy Eating Option

With a strong customer base, Dietlicious helps to motivate people from all walks of life to eat healthy foods. This includes models, celebrities and other busy individuals who have little or no time to devote to preparing clean and nutrient rich foods.

“Our food motivates because it is super healthy, totally convenient and wonderfully tasty,” said Horton. “The latest celebrity fan to recommend us is the beautiful Jodi Gordon from the Underbelly series, she refers to our food as “amazing” in a feature article in OK Magazine,” she said.

“Sebastien, our gorgeous and talented French chef does the creative input, for the menu, and I look after the calories,” said Horton. “We go back and forth matching taste with the right amount of calories for every meal,” she said. “Our other chefs also provide suggestions which keep the menu really interesting and varied.”

“Our menu changes often,” said Horton. “As we only use the freshest, seasonal, and natural produce,” she said. “We also offer a huge variety of meal plans, plus individual meals.”

Dietlicious meal plans include Cleanse, a detox diet, Kickstart, a low calorie diet,  1500, a 1500-calorie diet and 1800, an 1800-calorie diet, as well as flexible, individual and personalised meal plans to suit everyone’s needs and requirements. Plans typically cost between $33.85 and $37.35 per person per day, excluding delivery, and this includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks to maximise metabolism.

Meal plans are home delivered in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane along with the coastal cities of New South Wales and Queensland. Delivery charges range from $8.50 to $19.50 depending on the location and type of delivery service used.

Metabolism is the Key to Maintaining Weight

As an ageing woman, Horton says that she maintains her own health and fitness by watching what she eats and by exercising more.

“I know that as I age my metabolism slows so I need to eat less and move more,” said Horton. “It really helps that my partner isn’t a big eater so I don’t have to serve big portions,” she said. “We share this joke. I say, “Would you tell me if I was fat?” He responds, “Yes, I’d call you.”

“Seriously though, we don’t eat any processed foods, ” said Horton. “We try to eat the best quality food and drink the best wine available,” she said. “And have less of it all, most of the time.”

“I used to run 5 to 10 kilometres about three to four times a week,” said Horton. “But now I have a lazy left ‘glute’ so I do more stair climbing and hills walks,” she said.” I’m also trying to do more weights as well.”

As a nutritional expert, Horton recommends the following tips to maintain your own health and fitness.

“Don’t eat anything your grandma wouldn’t recognise, such as processed foods,” said Horton. “Know the difference between ‘sometimes foods’ and ‘anytime foods’ and remember that you decide how you are going to treat your body, as a temple or a tip,” she said.

“Plenty of variety is also important,” said Horton. “Try to eat at least 16 different foods every day,” she said. “Nature has made this very easy with such a wonderful array of fresh produce available here in Australia. Keep the cooking simple and enjoy.”

Horton also says that incidental exercise such as taking the stairs, instead of the lift helps to keep you moving and burning those calories. Which, in turn, keeps your metabolism switched on and engaged.

Incidental Exercise Defined

About these ads
Filed Under: National News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

YOUR WINNING SMILE WITH CLOSYS

November 8, 2012 By

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

IN-DEPTH NEWS FEATURE:

Your health and dental hygiene go hand-in-hand. In fact, according to research the impact poor dental hygiene can have on the body are massive.

Firstly, Periodontal Disease or Gum Disease, which is created by bacteria in the mouth, can lead to the loss of teeth. However, if left untreated, this bacteria can causes a whole range of serious health issues. These include jaw bone degradation, blood poisoning, brain damage and heart attacks.

Smile Kiss, CloSYS and Dental Hygiene

Anna Fraser, managing director of SmileKiss, a dental hygiene company that sells CloSYS, a revolutionary dental hygiene range that is activated by the amino acid in saliva, says that she and her husband started using the products themselves because they reduced harmful bacteria found in the mouth and they were a healthier alternative to the toothpastes and other dental products on the market.

Fraser, who has a bachelor of business degree and who is experienced in operations management, says that the difficulty in finding the CloSYS products here in Australia prompted her husband and her to become dealers in the products.

“There is an old saying that says, “I loved the product so much, I bought the company”. This is not exactly the case for me,” said Fraser. “But, I have formed this company around the CloSYS products, as I believe in them so strongly,” she said. “I started the company with the aim of providing a solution to many oral health issues.”

“My motivation has come from personal experience with the product and seeing how this product can have a real positive effect on people’s lives and give them more confidence,” said Fraser. “This is has really helped my husband, who had chronic halitosis before using CloSYS,” she said. “It’s motivating to know that by now being able to reach more people will have a proportional impact.”

The Fraser’s opened their business in July of 2011 and have not looked back since.

“The Simplicity of the product is popular,” said Fraser. “The routine entails toothpaste and mouthwash that are used by almost everyone interested in oral hygiene,” she said. “Many other specialty products on the market require quite rigorous routines, which are hard to maintain.”

“The results from CloSYS are remarkable, and it doesn’t require any special routines or additional activities.,” said Fraser. “Another difference is the patented ingredients in CloSYS, they simply work,” she said.

CloSYS Improves Oral Health

Fraser says that she uses CloSYS twice daily and visits her dentist every six months for a clean and check-up because your teeth are very much a part of your health.

“I find inter-dental brushes very effective and use them a few times a week to really clean the base of the teeth, and I always finish with CloSYS rinse,” said Fraser.

“Maintaining great oral health is one of my pillars for good all round health,” said Fraser. “There is increasing evidence about the impacts of oral health on the rest of the body, so it just makes sense to give it focus.”

Filed Under: National News Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

HORSE RIDING BUILDING BETTER PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRENGTH

September 10, 2012 By

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

IN-DEPTH NEWS FEATURE:

Horsing riding is a popular recreational activity and sport that burns calories fast. In fact, more than 400,000 Australians are burning some 640 calories or more, per hour, as they gallop off into the distance.

The Equestrian Federation of Australia estimates that there are some 120,000 Australians competing in equestrian events. This may be at an elite, Pony Club or rodeo level. Plus, a further 8,500 Australians are employed in the horse industry. However, these figures do not include those Australians who enjoy trail riding or exploring the countryside on weekends or after a busy day at work. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates these to be in the vicinity of 300,000 persons.

The average Australian who weighs in at 75 kilograms or 165 pounds is estimated to burn approximately 200 to 700 calories per hour, depending on whether they are grooming, walking, trotting or galloping their horse.

Horse Riding Maintains Health and Fitness Levels

Ivanka Menken, 42-year-old, director, co-founder and business owner of the Art of Service, an eLearning company for IT professionals, Emereo Publishing, an independent publisher of books and eBooks, and Horse-store.com, a health conscious product provider for horse and rider, says that without horse riding she is a grumpy, overweight boss.

“I have a staff of 20, 6 are based in Brisbane, and work has been very busy lately,” said Menken. “This means I spend way too much time at my desk and not enough time riding,” she said. “When I don’t ride I eat more. I have a very sedate lifestyle and my weight goes up as does my fat percentage. This makes me frustrated and grumpy.”

“In addition, when I don’t ride, I get tired because I don’t have that time outside,” said Menken. “Spending 100 plus hours at work, each week, inside and looking at a computer is not a healthy lifestyle,” she said. “When I ride, it gives me an escape. As an entrepreneur, I always think about my businesses. My growth goals my staff  and suppliers and customers. This never stops, that is, unless I ride.”

“When I am in the saddle, I can only think of the horse and what we are working on,” said Menken. “Otherwise if I lose that concentration, the horse will take advantage of it,” she said.

Menken explains how hectic her working week can be.

“I wake up at 4:30a.m. and start work immediately in my home office. Most of our Art of Service clients are in the United States and Canada, and I want to be there for them to answer their emails and eLearning questions while they are still in the office,” said Menken. “I also check in with our United States based staff to see if there are any roadblocks or hurdles that I should be aware of,” she said.

“I then connect with our freelancers and contractors to check on their progress, and after that, I work on our daily search engine optimisation (SEO) and social media content,” said Menken. “I try to write a blog and do a YouTube video each week, and stay in touch with Linkedin, Facebook, Pinterest, and other ‘usual suspects’ in relation to our companies and their products,” she said.

“On a regular basis I deliver webinars for our clients and prospects. These can take some time preparing,” said Menken. “On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday I try to get to the work-based office to have some face-to-face time with the team and to talk through the projects they are working on,” she said. “Also I talk to my office manager about the finances and some red-flags that can pop-up every now and then.”

“Currently we are working on a large customer relationship management (CRM) implementation project, so I am spending lots of time working on that,” said Menken. “Usually I finish doing my work activities around 6p.m. during the week, on Saturday probably around 4 or 5p.m. depending on the projects and short-term deliverables that are needed,” she said.

However, the long work hours can affect Menken’s health.

“When I keep doing these long hours and having no exercise it has a negative impact on my health,” said Menken. “I notice that I am getting stiffer through the shoulder from sitting hunched over at my desk all-day every-day,” she said.

To overcome this, Menken turns to horse riding.

“When I travel I don’t ride at all during the week. But, when I’m home, I ride on average two to three times each week,” said Menken. “I try to keep my fortnightly lessons and I am slowly starting to do some dressage competitions again,” she said.

“When I ride regularly I find my core strength improves, along with my posture and, assuming I get my diet right, hopefully my six-pack will be back,” said Menken. “My waist and upper body looks a lot leaner when I ride a lot,” she said. “Also my aerobic fitness goes up a lot. You need to have some stamina to sit-trot for 30-minutes in a row.”

In a mental capacity, Menken says horse riding is a Godsend.

“It’s an absolute life safer,” said Menken. “It’s cheaper than counselling, and when I am at that ‘burnt out’ stage, a week with the horses puts it all back into perspective,” she said.

” I need to let go of my control-freak behaviour and learn to have patience and work baby steps towards a goal,” said Menken. “Especially this year, when I had to rehabilitate my competition horse back to health after 12 months of illness, that was a massive task,” she said. “Taking it slow and not pushing it.”

“I use these ‘horsey skills’ in my job as well,” said Menken. “It sometimes helps to think of your staff as horses who want to do what you ask but don’t understand what you’re saying,” she said.

“Horse riding has a massive impact both physically and mentally on my health,” said Menken. “My personal trainer said that I was a lot stronger and more flexible in the shoulder, traps and upper body, now that I ride a lot more,” she said.

Horse Riding Builds Better Body Control, Stamina and Wellbeing

Jan Saunders, 50, is a leading senior constable stationed in the Victorian Mounted Police branch and an equestrian dressage coach Level 1 NCAS/EV. Saunders has been riding for 40-years and says that she was drawn to horses.

“I was obsessed by the majesty of horses,” said Saunders. “Their gentleness and size amazed me,” she said.

As a horse trainer, Saunders says that how you behave is the most important aspect of training a horse.

“Being calm, clear, systematic and listening to what the horse is “telling” me are vital. Horse training should never be about ego,” said Saunders. “Know when to stop for the day or the session.  Don’t ride for those watching,” she said. “This is particularly important in the early stages of training police horses.

“I like my horses to have “fun” in their work,” said Saunders. “I never want to frighten a horse. I want them to see new things as a curiosity that needs investigating at worst, and an enjoyable game at best,” she said. “Later, as that trust develops and deepens, when something happens that truly is scary, the fact that I ask the horse to do what I ask, immediately, is what gets us through,” she said.

Saunders thinks fitness levels for riding depends entirely on the rider’s style.

“To ride poorly, not much fitness is needed,” said Saunders. “To ride well, especially in terms of training a horse or competing, the better your fitness and the better your body control will be and your stamina,” she said. “Then you can provide clear and consistent signals so that the horse will not become confused by mixed messages as you tire.”

A herniated disc, however, has prevented Saunders from riding.

“Some people with this condition find riding is beneficial in terms of relieving the pain, but unfortunately in my case it doesn’t. It aggravates it,” said Saunders. “I hope in time this will improve and I will be able to return to the saddle and training young horses,” she said.

“Schooling horses demands having good balance and motor skills, a good level of overall fitness, strength, especially in our trunk and legs, flexibility and co-ordination,” said Saunders. “Core control is very important.”

“To be in tune with the horse one needs to both ask of the horse and listen to his response, then act accordingly and immediately,” said Saunders. “Concentration and focus, being in the moment with your horse creates the best atmosphere for the best results,” she said. “You will not achieve the best result by rushing or being distracted or by not listening to what the horse is “telling” you.  Listen more than tell.”

Saunders feels that horse riding develops a sense of wellbeing for the rider and horse.

“Working with a horse or any animal and achieving harmony and grace is incredibly satisfying,” said Saunders. “Good training will result in a feeling of peace and fluidity during the ride that lasts long after the ride,” she said. “A quiet ride out in the bush, just you and your horse, and maybe your dog, on a sunny-day is one of life’s simple pleasures. Caring for such a large, but gentle, animal is rewarding in itself.”

“Additionally, it is the reward of seeing a tense or a confused horse relax and enjoy being ridden,” said Saunders. “To help that horse find a better future and home because of that,” she said. “To have those jewels of moments when everything is so soft, so fluid and so easy. This is the joy of riding. Connection, harmony and a true partnership.”

Horse Riding Develops Teamwork Skills

Gemma Creighton, 18, a full-time horse rider and showjumper, who is hoping to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games riding team, has been horse riding for as long as she can remember.

“Riding is in my blood,” said Creighton. “My dad was a dual Olympian for the sport and that’s all I knew as I was grew up at showjumping competitions,” she said. “I just love it and always have.”

“Horses aren’t machines,” said Creighton. “They have their own minds, spirits and personalities,” she said. “For me it’s all about creating that partnership, which is based on trust. To get to the Olympic level you need that perfect partnership, which takes years to create.”

Creighton says that horse riding is the only Olympic sport that sees man and animal unite to become one athlete.

“It is not only the horse that has to be the elite athlete, but the rider as well,” said Creighton. “It very important to be at your fittest so that you can both reach your full potential and be the best you can be,” she said.

“Horse riding, especially showjumping, involves a lot of thinking. It is very technical and you always have to be on the job catering for the changing environment around you,” said Creighton. “Horses have minds of their own, so they are unpredictable,” she said. “This means that you must be able to make split-second decisions while trying to get to the jumps in the best way possible, so that you can jump them clear to stay at the top of the competition.”

Creighton says she is happiest when she is around horses.

“The partnership I share with each of my horses is special,” said Creighton. “They are my best friends that can take me anywhere in the world,” she said. “Riding all around the world is a very high profile professional sport making the possibilities endless. Because it is such a large sport any achievement big or small is great.”

“The feeling you get when you achieve something in this sport is overwhelming because it involves so much effort to be at the top,” said Creighton. “It is not only a hobby, but a lifestyle choice that you put endless hours into,” she said. “So when you win a competition, it makes it worthwhile and gives you such a good feeling because you know how hard you and your horse have worked for it.”

However, that feeling does not come without a strong connection.

“It is essential that horse and rider connect, especially if you want to do well,” said Creighton. “If you don’t connect, neither of you will reach your full potential and more damage than good will happen,” she said. “Think of it like a relationship with a good friend. If you’re communicating well, you both understand where you’re at and you can work together to achieve one goal. If you’re not communicating well, it leads to a lot of frustration on both sides, and neither is really happy.”

Creighton shares a working and playful relationship with her horses, as well as teamwork and unity.

“This is essential to success,” said Creighton. “You can’t do it by yourself, and as that old cliché goes, there is no ‘I’ in team,” she said. “I think that by growing-up around horses I developed a lot of skills intuitively. Overtime, you come to realise horses need fun like we do. Living on a property we get to see the horses in paddocks in their natural state and at play, and the joy they can have, and the outlet play can be for them.

“Horse riding  has taught me team work, the glory of winning and losing,” said Creighton. “Horses are great levellers because you can be at the top of the world one week, and at the bottom again the next,” she said. “They are unpredictable and involve a lot of work.”

“You sometimes spend all-day every-day with horses, so you form a type of bond and trust that nobody but the two of you could understand,” said Creighton. “It’s unspoken, but you both get it,” she said. “I think this benefits your health and fitness because it gives you another reason to keep on working towards your goal.”

Horse Riding Competitively is Physically and Mentally Demanding

Liassanthea Taylor, a 30-year-old physiotherapist who dreamed of being a vet, says that she was motivated to work with horse riders such as Gemma Creighton, who are immersed in the world of equestrian sports.

“Firstly, I wanted to be a veterinarian and work with horses, but I missed out on entry to the course by 0.2 of a mark, so I became a Physiotherapist instead,” said Taylor. “However, after 10 years of practice I was still wondering if I should go back to university,” she said. “Then it came to me that working with the unique demands of equestrian athletes was still a good way to achieve that desire.

“Having worked with elite athletes in a number of sports, I realised that a gap existed in the world of equestrian sports for a solid sports-science approach to their sport,” said Taylor. “The positive difference it can make to performance for these athletes is profound. And finally, in a personal sense, I wanted to create a niche where I was outside and active and doing something a little more creative.”

Taylor, assesses, treats and trains a rider to communicate better with horses.

“Working with riders relies on the understanding that the rider’s position is their communication,” said Taylor. “Horses are trained to respond to signals from the rider’s body and placement of the rider’s weight. Therefore, I am assessing the rider for the reasons they might be negatively affecting the horse,” she said. “This is mainly due to asymmetry and poor strength and control of their body.

“I use video assessment and clinical tests,” said Taylor. “We work out the reasons that the rider is having problems and not performing at their peak, or having pain, and put together a treatment program that rapidly gets them back to meeting an ‘ideal’ range of motion and control,” she said. “Then we start to challenge them with high performance fitness training specifically for riding.”

“However, in my opinion, for performance, safety and a competitive edge, riders must do some fitness training off the horse and specifically for their sport,” said Taylor. “Lack of high level physical fitness is not just a hazard to performance, but it’s a safety risk,” she said. “Without fitness, balance and lighting quick reaction time, riders risk falling, especially in jumping events and sadly, that can be a source of serious injuries.”

“Mental fitness is also essential for riders, and working with their coach, physio and sports psychologist is crucial to their performance,” said Taylor. “Riding a horse is a great test of your mental control of tension and arousal because your horse will feel everything that is happening in your mind and body, and he will change and react accordingly,” she said. “If you’ve got even a little bit of hesitation about jumping that scary looking jump and you doubt your ability, then you’ve set yourself up for your horse to not jump it because he feels your fear.”

“Riding a horse is exceptionally good for the rider’s overall wellbeing,” said Taylor. “It’s an opportunity to de-stress and unplug from the constant disruptions of modern life and to become mindful and at one with the horse,” she said. “If you can’t quiet your mind, then you can’t communicate effectively with your horse.

As a trainer of riders, Taylor feels that taking responsibility is vital to performance.

“Equestrian sport has relied on the tradition of how things have always been done for far too long and riders need to understand that they need to be just as strong and as fit as their horse to be effective in the saddle,” said Taylor. ” Better communication from the rider to the horse comes from the rider being able to give strong, clear and consistent commands to the horse and this can happen when the rider is fit, strong and stable without any injuries, pain or trauma,” she said. “Poor and inconsistent communication that confuses the horse very often leads to poor horse behaviour and performance, which can be dangerous and lead to long-term behavioural problems that can be very hard to remedy.”

Horse Riding is a Fun and Stimulating Way to Exercise and Enjoy Nature

Gavin Bartlett, 37, has been riding since he was 10-years-old and is a professional horseman and endurance rider, who runs White Pegasus Enterprises, a business that helps horses and riders to build a better relationship.

“I ride and compete all over Australia,” said Bartlett. “My favourite place to ride is the Mapleton and Kenilworth forest areas in Queensland.”

Bartlett, who owns five horses, Elle, Beau, Honey, Blondie and Mischief, says horses are an excellent way to enjoy the great outdoors.

“Riding is a great way to exercise,” said Bartlett. “It gets the heart rate up. It can be calming and relaxing, and it’s great fun,” he said. “I find it an excellent way to stimulate the mind, which is related to senses. It is also the best way to enjoy the fresh air, see the sights and travel to new places. Plus, the speed allows you to take it all in.”

Bartlett confesses that his life revolves around horses.

“Horses are my whole life,” said Bartlett. “I enjoy getting to figure out what’s going on in their life and possibly causing them stress,” he said. “I want to know what scares them and then help them to break that fear. It is all about getting to understand them.”

“I like being out with nature, just riding down a trail or finding new places to ride,” said Bartlett. “Everything I’m doing with a horse is working to create a bond with my horse, whether it’s groundwork or riding,” he said.

“Fitness comes from riding itself,” said Bartlett. “I also get to stay pretty fit from handling horses and from my time each day feeding,” he said.

Horse Riding is Building a Better Life For All

Chantal Cleland, a 46-year-old equine and human therapist and life coach, developed the Epona Partnership, a counselling and coaching program that helps individuals to shed their excess baggage by developing strong horsemanship skills.

“The Epona Partnership was developed through my love of horses and working with troubled horses, this also included working with their owners,” said Cleland. “I found that many owners would also bring their own personal baggage to the private coaching sessions. These issues ended up being worked upon and resolved, using the horse’s insight,” she said. “Many of the issues that the owner was facing with their horse, was as a direct result of what was going on inside of the owner.”

Cleland, a former lawyer, is a clinical hypnotherapist and psychotherapy consultant and an advanced master practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming. These qualifications enable her to help troubled individuals get back on track.

“The main structure of my business is working with troubled horses, or owners and their horses that are not connecting or building a partnership together,” said Cleland. “However, I have, over the last 10-years, developed and expanded into offering counselling and life coaching for humans, using horses as guides,” she said. “My human clients range from the age of 8 to70-years-old.”

“Horse riding and working with horses on the ground, which is what I do, increases stamina, muscle tone, and strengthens core muscles and develops motor neurone skills,” said Cleland. “Horses help humans understand and overcome their challenges. Whether it’s depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), caring for a horse gives someone a job to do,” she said. “This allows the mind to “breathe” and as a result solutions can be found that bring about a healthier more positive mental approach and wellbeing.  Reducing stress levels significantly.”

Cleland believes that horses help humans because they display a natural empathy.

“A horse is a herd animal and is naturally empathic as they go on ‘feel’,” said Cleland. “In other words, they survive on their feelings, as in, do they feel safe, do they feel threatened. A horse’s main survival instinct is flight, and if fleeing is not possible, then they will look to fight,” she said. “Kids, teenagers and young adults have very similar instincts to young horses, which is why equine facilitated learning and equine assisted life coaching works so well with children, teenagers and young adults with all sorts of challenges and difficulties,” she said. “Horses are highly attuned to reading body language and feeling emotions, therefore picking up on stress, anxiety and anger and fear is second nature to them.”

“It has been well documented that just being around horses can change a human’s brainwave patterns,” said Cleland. “People do feel and behave more calmly, and become more centred and focused, finding it easier to make decisions and choices, when they are with horses,” she said. “Even mainstream scientists are giving their tentative approval of the benefits of equine assisted life coaching and therapy.”

Victoria Judge, principal agent at the Expert Agency, a web, social and digital marketing agency, says that horse riding is the ultimate life-balance combination.

“For me, horse-riding is my ultimate escape from daily life,” said Judge. “It’s not just a great workout, it’s also a chance to be completely free from all the normal day to day cares and worries,” she said.

“When I’m out on my horse, it’s just me, him and nature and I love it,” said Judge. “I would probably be in a padded room if I didn’t have the opportunity to ride every week,” she said.

“There is no other bond like that bond between the horse and rider,” said Judge. “It means the world to me that my horse comes when he’s called,” she said. “This says that he loves me too. It’s really quite magical. Definitely spiritual.”

Filed Under: National News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Money Over Mental Health

May 18, 2012 By

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 SPECIAL NEWS FEATURE:

Dear all,

I’m sure you are aware by now that last Tuesday the Government, as part of the budget, announced a cap to the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP). What the Government announced in the Budget papers was that there will be an additional $17.6 million for the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program, BUT this additional funding will not be enough to keep up with the growth of the program. It is only enough funding to maintain MHNIP at its current level of activity.

In effect the MHNIP will be frozen at 2011-2012 levels. This means no organisations (GPs, psychiatrists, headspaces, Aboriginal health services) and no new mental health nurses, unless someone else exits the program. Organisations and nurses are also expected to keep activity at existing levels, so won’t be able to increase their capacity to meet demand.

The day after the Budget, I met with Minister Butler’s Office and their message was that in this tight Budget this level of funding was a good outcome for the program. However, I have to say that I would prefer slightly less surplus and the money put back into MHNIP.

In our opinion this decision has much larger ramifications than seems to have been considered. The College is very unhappy with this decision and we have commenced a campaign against the funding freeze.

First and foremost, there will be thousands of people with severe and complex mental illnesses who will miss out on services. There is no other program that provides clinical coordination services specifically to people with severe and complex mental illnesses. We know this group of people frequently fall through the gaps between other services. Based on current uptake the program it expected to provide services to 47,000 people this year, but can’t expand to provide services to the many thousands more who need the program.

One of the things that makes this decision hard to fathom is that the Department of Health and Ageing has only just commenced an evaluation of the program, so the decision to freeze the funding has been made without this evaluation. The evidence we do have, such as the case studies commissioned by the National Advisory Council of Mental Health and small scale evaluations by individual organisations or nurses, consistently show the program providing good outcomes for the following:

- Reduced hospitalisation for clients who have a history of repeat hospitalisation.

- Improved social functioning including better relationships with family.

- Increased capacity to manage their lives, work, study etc.

I also know that there will be a broader impact on primary mental health care. The Government has said that it is committed to better integrated primary care and to nursing in general practice. But this decision shows they aren’t committed to integration and nursing in mental health in primary care. Unfortunately this funding freeze will undermine the progress we’ve made over the last five years with our hard work towards getting more mental health nurses in primary care and towards engaging and working with GPs and psychiatrists. Of course, it will be the GPs, psychiatrists and community mental health teams who will feel the impact of these changes because consumers who can’t access the MHNIP due to the funding freeze will once again be reliant on these services.

The following is an excerpt from a newspaper report on the weekend, which shows that Minister Butler knows that this will be the result of the decision.

Minister for Mental Health Mark Butler said the extra money in the budget would ensure people can continue to get the service.

“This funding will ensure that people currently in the program continue to receive the care and support that they need,” he said.

“An evaluation of the program’s effectiveness is underway and will help determine funding needs in future years.

The evaluation is due to report towards the end of 2012.

“In addition, people living with severe mental illness can continue to be referred by their GP to Medicare subsidies consultant psychiatry services and community mental health services including the Day to Day Living and Personal Helpers and Mentors Programs which target people with severe mental illness.”

Not only will this cost more to consumers, Medicare and hospitals, but it also shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the program and what specialist mental health nurses do. The consumers this program targeted to need more than GPs, psychiatrists and community mental health teams can provide, that’s why the program was developed in the first place. And while Day to Day Living and Personal Helpers and Mentors Programs do a great job, they don’t provide the same type of service. I also wonder why there is enough money for practice nurses for GPs but not mental health nursing services.

As I’m sure you would appreciate we are working hard to make sure consumers, nurses and the organisations they work for are aware of the changes and what it means for them. We are also lobbying the Government to overturn the funding freeze on MHNIP until the evaluation of the program has been completed and then for them to consider the future of the program based on the evidence.

We would like your support in our campaign – to raise awareness about the decision and for you to get behind our call for the funding freeze to be overturned.

We need your help and support have this decision to overturned.

We need to act quickly and keep up the pressure.

Mental health Nurses and consumers of the mental health system need your support.

Simply click on this link to directly send Minister Butler your letter of support.

Thank you for your support.

Kim Ryan

Kim Ryan Adjunct Associate Professor Sydney University.
CEO Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.
Chair Coalition of National Nursing Organisations.                                                                                                                                           Credentialed Mental Health Nurse.

Filed Under: National News Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Art of Natural Female Body Building

April 12, 2012 By

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

NEWS FEATURE:

Female body builders defy nature and bust the boundaries of what many believe to be socially acceptable in terms of femininity. Many have thighs and back muscles that are more developed than the average man, and they are proud of it. But, this is only when they are competing. The female bodybuilder when not on the stage and in front of a judge looks like any other well toned and fit female. In fact, she could pass off as what society deems as feminine perfection.

The sport of female body building began in the late 1970s. This came after the sexual revolution where women gained rights to vote, buy property and enter into the world reserved for men. However, when it comes to femininity and the shape, size and composition of the female body, society still has very strict guidelines. Perfection is a firm and well toned body complete with a thin waist, ample bust and legs that travel all the way to heaven. And, this is what the art of female bodybuilding delivers, a form of heaven.

Vanessa Auditore, a human behaviour and wellbeing specialist, began bodybuilding in 2000. For Vanessa, who has been a qualified personal trainer (PT) since 1998, it was a natural progression from what she refers to as her ‘sporty gal’ mentality.

“I have always been athletic and played sport such as netball and athletics, mainly distance, cross country and field events, at national levels throughout my primary and high school years,” Auditore said. “I had a break to pursue life a little and came back to sport when my son was about 5-years-old. He’s now almost 20,” she said.

Vanessa’s bodybuilding journey began as a form of rehabilitation.

“I wanted to challenge myself essentially. After years of being a PT I specialised in rehabilitation. This was partly due to an ankle reconstruction and I needed to heal myself, ” said Auditore. “I always like to know the ‘how’ of things. I evolved into a transformational life coach and then progressed onto counselling,” she said. “I could see that there was more to the healing process than working one dimensionally just with exercise.”

“In this respect, natural bodybuilding is the ultimate holistic transformational process,” said Auditore. “It is physical, mental, emotional, and hormonal, plus it builds esteem, especially when relationships with yourself and others comes under the microscope,” she said. “These need to be completely aligned to succeed.”

Having now competed for four years in Sydney, Vanessa is changing federations to the International Federation of Body Building and Fitness (IFBB), as her aspirations have shifted from national competition to the World Titles.

“My first competition was the New South Wales Titles,” said Auditore. “I placed and within two weeks I was on a plane to Melbourne to compete in the Australian Titles. This was my second competition,” she said. “I didn’t place here, but I was so thrilled to be there. To make it to the Australian Titles was an exhilarating and amazing experience. I was exhausted.”

“Planning is the key. And that is exactly what I did for competition three, the Australian Titles held in Sydney,” said Auditore. “I placed and I was determined to improve. I walked off that stage with a trophy in hand and a massive smile.”

Competition in Australia is open for competitors aged 16 years and over. There are varying levels of competition such as bodybuilder, figure, model and fitness. Judges of women’s competition typically look for defined well developed muscle and balance among the muscle groups. Good posture and posing along with a lean physique and stage presence also contribute to good results.

“To achieve results in natural body building you are training hard for most of the year,” said Auditore. “The last 12 weeks are the toughest because you begin to eat clean. Some call it dieting. Personally, I would rather see it as fine-tuning as diet implies restriction and that word does interesting things to people’s psyche which can affect the result,” she said. “For me it’s a disciplined choice to enhance my hours and hours of hard work, and to maximise my opportunities for success.”

“I use visualisation and sports psychology as a part of my process to prepare for that success,” said Auditore. “To push through when the training is really tough or for the moments when my motivation slips, because I am tired,” she said. “This is when I need to clarify my visions, give myself compelling reason, and to remain disciplined to eat completely clean when it counts.”

“My fuel is always the same,” said Auditore. “It’s only the portions that get adjusted. I find that a Paleo style diet works best for me. I am always gluten free, regardless of whether I am competing or not,” she said. “I also take supplements such as vital greens, slippery elm powder, apple cider vinegar, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin D. I also follow biosignature protocols and take fish oil.”

The lead up to a competition is when Vanessa focuses on her building her body to meet the judges standards.

“Six months before competition, I am just training in stages. These focus on what body parts require attention so that the desired symmetry is developed by competition day,” said Auditore. “I also eat clean with occasional free days thrown in, where I eat what I like, throughout the week.”

“Three months out is pretty much same as my six month preparation, except my nutrition is beginning to become more disciplined. I eliminate the “treats” and I still have a day a week that is more relaxed,” said Auditore. “Training really is dependent on what needs fine tuning. This, for me, mostly includes high intensity and circuit work, which helps my physique to become tighter and leaner,” she said. “Meditation and my yoga practice then becomes a strong support to maintain holistic balance. I am also fine-tuning my posing and organising costumes, accessories, hair and makeup.”

“One month out, my diet becomes super clean with no treats and I am super focused on continuing to become as tight and as hard as I can. I can adjust this a few days before competition day by changing my diet, if I need to look a little softer,” said Auditore. “You can do this, but you can’t get harder in a few days, she said. “The last week is crucial and everything is monitored closely. Posing practice and just staying as relaxed and rested as possible are vital.”

Von Eirlys, TV production manager and producer of UnseenTV, Australia’s first online entertainment video network, says that body building for her is a lifestyle choice that enables her to maintain and enjoy excellent health.

“I have to travel a bit between capital cities for work, but I am also in training as a female bodybuilder in the bikini and sports model categories. I have to train for a minimum of four days a week for at least 45 minutes,” said Eirlys. “This is regardless of where I am, at any given point,” she said. “I still need to work out either in a gym, outdoors or in my hotel room.”

“Because I am a bodybuilder, my lifestyle becomes bodybuilding. I incorporate all aspects of my life into my training and diet,” said Eirlys. “It is lifestyle choice not a diet or workout plan. My body and health are an investment, ” she said. “I have to take ownership of my own dieting and exercise because it is impossible for someone else to do it for me.”

“I have shared interests with all of my friends, which not only makes my friendships convenient but 100 percent genuine and committed, ” said Eirlys. “No one in my life is eating badly around me or encouraging me to be negative to my body or health. I also save so much money eating at home or pre-preparing my meals and I have such an amazing work ethic because I am energetic, motivated and healthy, which means zero sick days,” she said.

Von says that preparation is the key to success, especially when she is travelling.

“I am in a long distance relationship so I travel every 10 days for four days,” said Eirlys. “I also travel interstate for work at least once a month for at a minimum of three days. I have been to every continent, including Antarctica, and I have been to every major city in Australia,” she said. “This is mostly for work projects, but I have also backpacked around Europe and South East Asia for leisure.”

“Preparation is important. I always Google where the closest gym is in the area, and I take resistance bands, skipping rope and an interval timer with me everywhere I go, just in case I cannot find a local gym,” said Eirlys. “If I cannot find a gym then I do plyometric interval and circuit training in my hotel room. Plus, I use my creativity to create the necessary program to suit my schedule,” she said. “I also use bodyrockers.tv workouts as they are often very handy.”

“In regards to nutrition, I prepare everything weekly. This means I pre-package all of my protein powders and supplements into individual portions and I always eat clean foods from local supermarkets,” said Eirlys. “If there are no cooking facilities in my room then I am that annoying girl who orders “off the menu” at restaurants and asks for a gluten free, diary free, no dressing, and no cooking oil meal,” she said. “Believe it or not I have never been turned down and if I say it nicely with a smile they are more than happy to oblige.”

Von says that her trainer has a motto that she never forgets — “fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” This motto resonates well with her as she is driven to succeed.

“Preparation is my number one tip for health. If you do not prepare you will become very time poor and your fitness and health will falter. I prepare everything, every single Sunday,” said Eirlys. “It takes about 30 minutes of my time to prepare my meal plan and package supplements,” she said. “Therefore I know exactly what I am going to be eating on Thursday for my fourth meal of the day, which prevents me from reaching for that Tim Tam or ordering a meal from a pub.”

Mind over matter is a strong force in Von’s training. She says that by incorporating work, exercise and social time into her life she is able to live pleasurably. This means finding out what you enjoy most so that you commit to it 100 percent.

“It is all about psychology,” said Eirlys. “I love working out because I know what my results are going to be. Yes, it hurts while I am training and my fat is crying (sweat). It is a struggle to push through the last few reps. But, I do it because I love knowing what I am going to achieve and I absolutely love having the body confidence to wear a bikini in public,” she said. “I eat well because I know what I will have to do to burn it off and I am too lazy to run for 45 minutes to burn off a McDonalds burger, especially  when it takes 15 minutes to cook up some veggies and lean meat. I am not a mathematician, but I figure this gives me at least 30 minutes of my own time to be lazy and indulge in Facebook or watch television.”

Von says that motivation has allowed her to gain the results that she has wanted and that she does not believe in restricting her diet.

“Find something that will motivate you. Rather than thinking “aww do I really have to go to the gym,” think “Excellent, I get to go to the gym now”. I have a personal trainer who checks in on me every single day and if I fail to go to the gym I feel so guilty,” said Eirlys. “Plus, I suffer the next time I workout with him. I pay him to train me so it is my money I am wasting if I lie to myself about my training.”

“Before I got a personal trainer my motivation was competition and judgment. That might sounds negative but it is actually a positive. When I went to the gym I would use other gym goers as motivation to push myself further,” said Eirlys. “Rather than stopping at my eighth repetition because I was fatiguing, I would continue pushing to my sixteenth because I would imagine that other gym goers would be impressed by my efforts.” she said. “I use an interval timer so that I remain honest with myself, if I am doing a high intensity interval training (HIIT) workout on the stationary bike, it prevents me from “cheating” on my workout.”

“Eating, it is very important to eat and to eat regularly. I do not calorie count, I do not starve myself,” said Eirlys. “I eat carbs, fats, sugars and proteins. I just eat them at the right time of day and in the correct portions,” she said. “I follow a few rules, 1. Eat five to six times a day and never skip a meal, 2. Eat clean, no pre-packaged products, 3. No take away or fast foods, and 4. Always read food labels.”

The most difficult health and fitness obstacles that Von has needed to overcome whilst travelling have been associated with peer group pressure.

“When I first started training and dieting I was often led by peer pressure. I lacked motivation because colleagues and friends were not very supportive of my goals,” said Eirlys. “I often, for convenience, would eat out a lot, not train and would just be plain lazy,” she said. “But, I noticed dramatic differences in my energy levels, my work ethic, my moods and especially in my body and health. It took time to overcome these.”

Vanessa Auditore says that she relies on her support network as competition is an emotional roller coaster ride that takes nerves of titanium to work through.

“Competition day is long and hard on the nerves. This is probably because of the massive lead up to getting on stage. There is so much expectation. The outcomes are in the hands of the judges who are often looking for something in particular on that day. This can be so subjective, and you can’t really know what they want until you get up there,” said Auditore. “It’s also exhilarating. You have dedicated so much to this one day. It is here. And there is no way of hiding when you’re on stage in a bikini.”

“Nerves can get the better of you,” said Auditore. “I remember my first competition. The adrenaline was pumping. I was flexing so hard and shaking like a leaf. I couldn’t control the twitching nor could I consciously relax the poses,” she said. “It’s the weirdest experience, especially when you’re smiling like a maniac and all you want to do is run off that stage.”

“Nobody succeeds at this level alone. I value the benefits of having people in your corner. For me, I have my training partner George Bishay, known as “G”, he is a very special guy and he makes a massive difference to my training, we help each other along,” said Auditore. “Nathan Page, an IFBB judge, also helps me to build on my body. I work with him on my legs as they are my strongest body part and I need to create a leaner leg,” she said. “Nathan helps me to fine tune and with posing. Nathan is great we have a laugh and he pushes me hard on leg days, harder than I would by myself.”

“I have my family and friends support and my clients love to see me walking my talk,” said Auditore. “I also have an amazing sister, Carlene Fuchs, who is a naturopath. She is invaluable when it comes to ensuring that my hormones and endocrine system stays healthy.”

“I did it alone during my first competition, and that was really tough. People that share your vision offer love and support and are very special to me,” said Auditore. “I am very particular about who is in my space, as some people’s attitudes, beliefs and energies are contagious. I want to ensure that they are adding value not taking it away,” she said. “At this level there isn’t much flexibility. I work hard to achieve my goals and they can slip through your fingers if you aren’t aware of your own return on investment (ROI).”

For those looking to break into the sport of bodybuilding, Vanessa recommends doing a little research and planning beforehand so that you can prepare yourself physically and emotionally.

“You need to plan, research and plan, talk to experienced trainers of competitors and to competitors themselves,” said Auditore. “And as you train, remember that if you feel exhausted, moody and depleted, then something is wrong. Listen to your body and talk to the experts,” she said. “Competition is hard. It is demanding on every single aspect of you, your body, mind, emotions and esteem. You need to know how to maintain a lean, strong body, and to be able to keep enhancing your physique without losing out in other areas of your life. Overall, be prepared to make sacrifices. Bring your determination and leave your attitude at home.”

Filed Under: National News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Blazing Trails to Reduce Poverty

March 29, 2012 By

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

NEWS FEATURE:

If you are a team player who is seeking an extraordinary challenge–one that will test your endurance and commitment as it aims to eliminate world poverty–then Oxfam’s Trailwalker is a charity event that you just cannot walk past.

You stand there nervously at the start, wondering if you will make it. You look over at your three teammates and smile unsurely. The butterflies in your stomach are creating this knot. You cannot help but wonder if the preparation has paid off. All those months of hard work, will they get you to the finish? You shake away any doubts and mentally prepare yourself for the challenge that lies ahead. Just you, your team mates, the Australian bush, and 100 kilometres of trail to blaze. You can do it. Those who live in poverty are counting on you. They walk further than this just to get clean water. Therefore, you ask yourself, “What is 100 kilometres between friends?”

Welcome to Oxfam Australia’s Trailwalker, whose motto is to commit, and then endure, so that you can achieve. This event is classified as the world’s hardest team challenge where competitors need to be physically and mentally fit to make it to the finish line. Moreover, they need to do so, as a team, to win.

In fact, according to historical records, the Trailwalker event has always been about teamwork. The first challenge took place on the MacLehose Trail inHong Kongas a British army training exercise, in 1981. Today, the event occurs in eleven different countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, The Netherlands and the UK. What’s more, all events follow the same principles. A team of four must travel 100 kilometres within a specified time. Moreover, all proceeds assist Oxfam in its quest to change the conditions of those who are living below the poverty line.

Oxfam Australia, which began in the 1950s, was Father Gerard Kennedy Tucker’s vision for changing poverty. Starting out as the ‘Food for Peace Campaign’ and then gaining the name ‘Community Aid Abroad’ in the 1960s, the non-profit organisation then merged with the ‘Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign’ in 1991. This attracted other similar organisations and, by 1995, Oxfam International was created. In 2005, the organisation became known as Oxfam Australia, which now operates in more than 26 countries around the world in an effort to eliminate poverty and eradicate injustice.

Jane Denning, marketing coordinator for the Sydney Trailwalker held annually in August, is extremely passionate about her role and has been involved with Oxfam as a volunteer since 1999.

“I grew up in the UK, so I used to walk past the Oxfam shop there, and I always thought, one day, I would really like to work for them. Anyways, many years later, here I was in Australia, at home, looking after my young children, and I thought right now is the time to get off my bottom and start volunteering. I started with what was known as Community Aid Abroad and then became Oxfam in 2005. I just wanted to do something to help and to give something back,” said Jane.

Jane, who has personally competed in the event, simply describes it as ‘amazing.’

“As a competitor, it was an amazing experience, but it was hard. I had my teammates supporting me, and I remember that one of our members had done the event before whereas the rest of us were newbies on the trail,” Jane said. “I was very nervous before the event started. I had a stomach full of butterflies. I mean, we had been training for months.”

Laughing, Jane adds, “We did things together before the event like go to the movies so that we would have something to talk about whilst on the trail. Girls just love to talk. I remember during the event that we would come across a group of men on the trail and they would be so quiet. Then, we would whisper to each other, ‘They’re not saying anything.’ We just thought this was so odd. But, then, teams of women and men are just so different.”

To get through the event, Jane and her team members had a philosophy, which was to break the trail down into parts and take it section-by-section to the finish line.

“We took it from checkpoint-to-checkpoint rather than thinking about the whole 100 kilometres. We broke it down and made it easier on ourselves. We had a great support crew. They took it in turns to be there, some during the day and others at night,” Jane said. “It was surreal at night. It was hard. We got low in spirit. It was quite cold. We did really well during the day and we thought we were going to finish in record-time, and then night falls and it gets so cold that your body does not want to continue. You have to concentrate at night. It is harder to see, but the trail is well marked with fluorescent trail markers. You have a headlamp. We were being overtaken at night because we were so slow, and then you see all these little lights. Other people are in front of you and behind. The trail is blazing as you go through the bush. It is an amazing experience. Then, when you cross the finish, it is just so climatic. You think of your huge achievement, especially as a team of four.”

The Sydney Trailwalker event, which Jane helps coordinate, has risen close to $3.2 million dollars for Oxfam, annually, since 2007. The event has a limited number of team positions available, which adds to participant enthusiasm. The limit is set at 500 teams of four, or 2,000 individual participants on the trail, by the N.S.W. National Parks Authority. This is intended to reduce the environmental impact and to ensure that the number of walkers do not become a safety issue. And, the speed at which teams registered for the 2010 race is indicative of the event’s popularity.

“This year’s team registration was done in two phases: a lottery system for our regular teams who pledged to raise between $1,000 and $5,000 and a first-in-best-dressed system for our highest fundraisers who raise over $5,000 for Oxfam. That last category opened online on March the 16th at 10a.m., and it sold out within 1 hour and 45 minutes. The lottery was open for six weeks, and we had 400 entrants for 200 spots,” Jane said.

So, why is this event so popular?

Apart from being charity-based, the event pits man against nature and is the ultimate challenge in terms of mind over matter. As such, the Trailwalker event attracts a variety of participants–from mums and dads, sisters and brothers through to businesses seeking to develop unity and teams who are health and fitness-orientated.

“The Sydney event begins on a Friday and the teams who have entered have to walk 100 kilometres in under 48 hours. It is an endurance event, so the walk is not easy. Most of it is on a single trail that goes over many hills,” Jane said. “It is not just about endurance, but it is also about teamwork. People do need to train. We open registration at least five months prior to the event so that people have time to prepare.”

On the day of the event, the 500 teams are divided into three starting times – 7a.m., 8.30a.m., and 10a.m. – which allows for a steady flow of foot traffic and alleviates the congestion at the starting line. Competitors are allocated 48 hours to travel the 100 kilometres as a team. They are timed from the start and must travel together and check into and leave every checkpoint as a team. Those teams whose members are unable to continue in the event can complete the event, but they cannot be considered for podium positions.

All competitors must be 18 years or older, and it is vital that they have a support crew of between 2-10 people who can provide encouragement and main meals as well as carry supplies. It is important to train in the lead-up to the event; otherwise, it is highly unlikely that a person will make it to the finish line. Walking or running 100 kilometres is not for the faint hearted; it takes dedication and conviction as well as a good degree of fitness.

“There is training and it does require commitment. You have to endure a lot of hard work in training your body to walk the 100 kilometres. Some people even run it. The fastest team this year did it in 12 hours and 7 minutes. They are professional people. They are not athletes. They are ordinary every-day people. Mind you, they probably run a lot more than the average person,” Jane said. “The drive is that sense of achievement when you walk across that finish line and just know that the fundraising is for a great cause. You really feel that. It is just an amazing feeling when you walk across that finish line. Having walked 100 kilometres and having raised funds for Oxfam. I mean, some teams set themselves amazing goals. There is a team called “On a Mission,” and they entered with a $10,000 target. They are a group of young girls–they are not university students, but they are young. They have now raised more than that target. They finished, and they feel very good about themselves.”

Trailwalker event proceeds support Oxfam Australia’s work where the organisation assists people, who live in poverty, to find their own solutions to remedy their situation. This means helping to educate them, giving them access to clean water and life-sustaining food, and providing the chance to earn a living. In addition, the organisation also responds to emergencies and natural disasters by enabling those who have been displaced from their homes to gain access to clean water, shelter, and food as well as rebuild and prepare for future disasters. Overall, Oxfam Australia campaigns for change, encouraging world leaders and governing bodies to change their policies so that people are not kept in poverty and are able to become economically viable.

The Trailwalker event has fundraising classifications: the Regular category of teams who raise between $1,000 and $4,999 dollars; the Gold teams who raise between $5,000 and $9,999; the Platinum teams who raise between $10,000 and $19,999; and the Diamond teams who raise over $20,000.

Andrew Needham, a hotel manager, competed in the Sydney 2010 event in a team called “A Band of Brothers.” They finished the event in just over 28 hours and walked through the night to get to the end. All four team members finished, and they could not have done it without their support crew.

“Surviving was pretty special,” Andrew said. “We went into the night, and we seriously could not have done it without our support crew, especially their egg and bacon rolls.”

Andrew adds, “I remember going to the information night for the event after we had registered. I was sitting there, listening to the facts. They said that 50% of teams lose a member before the half-way mark; they simply cannot go any further. Then, they start to show you these images of blood blisters, swollen feet, and even broken ankles. I sat there and asked myself, ‘What have you got yourself into?’ That was the real eye-opener. However, I was committed and that meant that I was going to finish, so we started training in March.”

Team training saw Andrew and his three other team members meet every Sunday for six months in the lead-up to the event. The team trained to build stamina and endurance, and they all agreed the best way to make it to the finish line was to train on the track and familiarise themselves with their surroundings.

“We focused on having time on our feet. We trained on a Sunday and walked 14km to start of with and then, the following Sunday, we walked 18kms and slowly progressed up to 50kms. Then, just before the event, we tapered the training back,” said Andrew. “We even did night preparation. I can recall walking from 4.30a.m. to 4.30p.m. during one training session and feeling deflated by the end because we had only managed to travel 40kms. That’s when I think we all realised that it was going to be really tough physically.”

Andrew’s main reason for participating in the event was the challenge. He wanted to do something for a worthwhile cause as a team player and he wanted to make a difference in the lives of others by doing so.

“Nothing against cold-calling and donating to charity this way, but Trailwalker’s way of raising money gives us a sense of achievement. We get to help someone by putting the effort in ourselves, not just putting our hands in our pocket,” said Andrew. “This is just such a worthwhile cause. I have always wanted to do something challenging that really made a difference to other people.”

Weeks of raffles, meat trays, and other initiatives allowed Andrew and his teammates to raise just under $25,000 for Oxfam.

“We did 7-8 weeks of meat trays and the Crow’s Nest Hotel. They raised over $2,000 for the event alone. We had a comedian night at the Woolloomooloo Hotel. The entry was a $40 donation for a stand-up show and then we held raffles,” said Andrew. “It never ceased to amaze us how many people knew about the event and how many people were willing to give something towards it.”

The event for Andrew was the biggest charity initiative he has ever been involved in, and he could not commend the organisation of the event highly enough, especially the volunteers and the way the track is marked out at night-time.

“You are walking down cliffs and, at night, you have such limited vision, but there are these little fluorescent markers everywhere. They light up the trail as do the volunteers. Those volunteers are just incredible. They greet you as if you are the first person they have seen and you know that 300 people have already passed them. This can be at one in the morning. They are so encouraging and they just make you feel so good even when you are physically exhausted,” Andrew said. “The hardest part for me was when I was walking along a particularly tough section. It had lots of hills and rock faces. It was night. We were walking single file. Then, ‘bam,’ out of the bush flies this kangaroo. It knocked me clean over, straight off my feet, and I fell down an embankment. I just sat there dazed, thinking what the…?”

However, Andrew says he would like to do the event again though he is unsure about competing in the near future.

“I think I need more than 12 months to recuperate, but I would like to be one of those individuals that can lay claim to having finished the event five, six, and seven times. I would like that.”

If you believe that you can also go the distance like Andrew and his teammates, and you, too, would like to make a difference to others, then you can find out more information about the Australian Trailwalker events or register online at: http://www2.oxfam.org.au/trailwalker.

Registration costs $600 per team, which equates to $150 per person. This fee covers the cost of your information kit, which includes a safety and training manual, and the operational costs of the event. In addition, your registration fee also enables you and your team to receive basic food supplies at the checkpoints, such as bananas, apples, other fruits, energy bars, coffee, tea and soup.

Please Note: This article was originally written by Tricia L. Snell and published in Lifestyle Investor Magazine Vol. 1.8 |  2011. It has been updated and re-printed with the permission of the Lifestyle Education Group.

Filed Under: National News Tagged With: , , , , ,

Chipping for Charity: The National Stroke Foundation’s Counterstroke Golf Classic

March 23, 2012 By

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

NEWS FEATURE:

For those of you who have a passion for golfing and a handicap and would simply love to play on some of the most exclusive courses that Australia has to offer, the Counterstroke Golf Classic may be the charity event for you. Considered as one of the major fundraisers for the National Stroke Foundation, this event is stipulated as being one of the best-valued charity golfing events in history as the entry fees are minimal; the camaraderie, scenery and cuisine are magnificent; and the prizes are fantastic. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your clubs, and let’s head for Victoria’s Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas.

There is nothing more exhilarating than standing on a green where some of the world’s best golfers have played. Perfectly manicured rolling hills stretch as far as the eye can see, a flag waves to you in the distance, and, as you ready yourself to tee off, you can smell the salty breath of the ocean. This is what many of the private golf courses on the Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas inVictoria offer every golfer, but, unfortunately with exclusive membership that is often costly, not every golfer will have the opportunity to play on such prestigious courses.

However, this all changes if you decide to support the National Stroke Foundation by entering in their Counterstroke Golf Classic, which is run twice yearly on courses, such as the Greg Norman designed National and the picturesque Flinders. In addition, this event is proclaimed by some of the most seasoned golfers as being one of the most rewarding and enjoyable endeavours that you will ever have the pleasure of being involved with.

Ranald MacDonald, former managing director of the Melbourne Age and lecturer at Boston University, has competed in the Counterstroke Golf Classic for the last four and a half years and is an active committee member who professes that the event is so much fun.

“My interest has always been golf, which I absolutely adore. I have played for more than 23 years,” said Ranald. “Firstly, the Counterstroke Golf Classic is worthwhile, and, secondly, the people who are part of it feel that they can make some contribution and they have fun doing it as well as making friendships, and we also get to play on some excellent golf courses.”

Ranald adds, “A stroke has such an impact on lives. Sadly, people who get strokes often don’t get the treatment they need. The crucial thing is early warning and people knowing what to do, so we want to publicise this. This is one of the two objectives of the Counterstroke Classic — to publicise these signs and the other is to raise money for research. We just want to get the message out.”

When asked about his first event, Ranald describes it as breathtaking and great fun.

“I played at the Portsea, which is a lovely little course. I am not sure if it is on the schedule this year, but next year we have gotSorrento. Portsea is gorgeous. Everyone who played just enjoyed the camaraderie and had fun. Everyone plays against everyone in this event and it is so social and so much fun.”

Ranald defines the event as being ‘an exceptional contest’ even though he admits that he has not been fortunate enough to win.

“The event is good competition, and handicaps allow everyone to have a chance. Plus, you get to meet so many people each year. In fact, of the 600 people who play, a lot of us play again and again,” Ranald said. “Like everyone, I should have won every time, but, sadly, the rub of the green causes misfortune to strike every year, so this year is going to be the year.” Pausing for a moment, Ranald adds, “The bounces have all gone the wrong way, but not this year.”

The Counterstroke Golf Classic, which is run during February and September of every year, is one of the National Stroke Foundation’s major fundraisers.

Dr. Erin Lalor, CEO of the National Stroke Foundation, describes the event as fundamental to the group’s initiatives.

“The Counterstroke Golf Classic is incredibly important to the National Stroke Foundation as it enables us to support a number of vital programs within the organisation,” Dr. Lalor said.

The National Stroke Foundation, which was established in 1983 by Sir John Holland and Mr. David Browbill, aims to raise stroke awareness and prevent incidences as well as improve treatment and the quality of life for stroke sufferers. The National Stroke Research Institute estimates the costs at approximately $2.14 billion per year. In fact, a stroke, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, is the second biggest killer of Australians and the leading cause of disability, and it kills more women than breast cancer. In addition, an independent study conducted by AG Thrift, scientific researchers, estimates that some 60,000 Australian’s will suffer from a stroke in 2012.

This includes people, such as 43-year-old, mother of two, Kim Durose, who found that her arm would refuse to work on one lazy Sunday afternoon. And, when Kim tried to tell her husband, Matt, her words simply would not come out. Matt, luckily remembered the National Stroke Foundation’s FAST advertisement, which he had heard on the radio, and dialled for an ambulance.

Kim was rushed to hospital and treated with tPA, a clot-busting drug, and within 24 hours Kim’s symptoms were no longer a threat to her health.

“I realise how lucky I was. The scans showed that I had a significant clot in my brain and I now know that there is only a three-hour window to get the tPA treatment,” Kim said.

With only a three-hour window to treat a stroke sufferer and prevent any long-lasting damage, the National Stroke Foundation is focused on delivering their FAST message by any means possible.

The FAST test is one of the easiest ways of detecting stroke, and it gives you the best chance of helping a stroke sufferer receive the vital treatment that they need to maintain their quality of life. The FAST test is as follows:

Face – Check their face. Has their mouth dropped?

Arm – Can they lift both arms?

Speech – Is their speech slurred? Can they understand you?

Time – Time is critical. If you see these signs, dial ‘000’ immediately.

Tamie Fraser AO, wife of Malcolm Fraser, Australia’s 22nd Prime Minister, who competes in the event and who has been the Chairperson of the Counterstroke Golf Classic committee for the last four years, feels very passionate about the organisation and the event because she has witnessed the devastating effects of stroke.

“I know many people who have been affected by stroke. Some of these are my best friends and my grandmother, so I know how difficult it is. This illness has no quick-fix. If you don’t get there in three hours and recognise the signs, it becomes difficult to cure, and then it becomes a burden on the entire family,” Tamie said.

Tamie, who was initially invited to play in the Mornington Peninsula Counterstroke Golf Classic, decided to become actively involved in the event because she enjoys giving to others and also competing.

“It is doing ‘good’ by giving other people pleasure. And, I always think it is good to give so that you get a little bit back,” said Tamie. “When we first played, the first year before I was chairperson, my husband and I won a mixed event on one of the days and that was very exciting.”

Recollecting her first event, Tamie adds, “My first event was special because it was my first one, and I met all the people who had been playing in it for years. When they came to register, I was interested in the broad range of people who arrived. You knew there were people from medical backgrounds, and there were people who were involved with stroke because they knew people who had a stroke and they wanted to support the Stroke Foundation. Some of these people weren’t particularly well off or they were retired. We had a huge range of people and I loved meeting all of them.”

Dayle Marshall, coordinator of the Counterstroke Golf Classic events, who has been involved with golf for some 25 years and is actively involved in Stuart Appleby Junior Golf, explained just how the events are run.

“There are no specific classifications in the event, but there are different types of competition within it. The event is a 4-ball competition, and you use your golf handicap and enter into it. You can elect to play mixed, doubles, men’s or women’s tournaments, and each day is classified as a separate day of competition. Therefore, you can choose to play on one day or over the entire event. The choice is entirely yours,” Dayle said. “We even have novelty events, such as ‘beat the pro,’ which is just so much fun. Overall, I would have to say that the event truly is extraordinary because the entry fees are minimal, and this means that anyone and everyone can come and enjoy a fantastic day of golf on courses that they would not ordinarily be able to play on due to the private memberships and exclusivity.”

Entry fees to play a day of golf in the Counterstroke Classic range are less than $200 per person and this includes lunch. The fees paid go directly to the National Stroke Foundation as the golf clubs contribute to the green fees, and the sponsors of the event cover the costs of administration and prizes.

“We always invite companies to sponsor the event and it makes for great exposure as it is such a relaxed environment within a highly qualified market sector,” said Dayle. “The prizes we offer winners of events are lovely. These include wines, golf equipment, and books.”

The Counterstroke Golf Classic began in 1994 and the event has raised approximately $950,000 for the National Stroke Foundation. To date, some 12,500 entrants have participated in the event. The Bellarine Peninsula event, held in September 2012, typically has 200-300 entrants over the two days, and the MorningtonPeninsula event, which will next be held in February 2013, attracts some 500-700 participants. Dayle, however, would like to see these numbers rise and encourages people to enter before the deadlines of each event.

“There really is no limit to the number of people who can participate in these events, but we do have to consider how many people can safely play golf on a course at one time. Some golf courses will comfortably fit 120-150 people on them. Most pro tournaments have 144 competitors. I think our maximum would probably be 200,” Dayle said. “My target for the Mornington Peninsula event is to have 1,000 competitors play over the five days of golf, bearing in mind that not all participants play every day of the competition.”

Dayle, who has been coordinator of the event since late 2009, simply loves being involved with the National Stroke Foundation and confesses that she is motivated by her passion for golf and a personal experience with stroke.

“My great grandmother suffered a stroke and the research that the foundation does was extremely beneficial, so I was more than happy to assist. I also love the sense of enjoyment that the participants have and I am having a ball whilst doing something great,” said Dayle. “It is a great working environment, very rewarding.”

To obtain more information on the Counterstroke Golf Classic events, held on the Bellarine or MorningtonPeninsulas, and how to obtain entry forms, please contact Dayle Marshall via email at: dmarshall@strokefoundation.com.au or visit the Stroke Foundation website.

Please Note: This article was originally written by Tricia L. Snell and published in Lifestyle Investor Magazine Vol. 1.7 |  2010. It has been updated and re-printed with the permission of the Lifestyle Education Group.

Filed Under: National News Tagged With: , , , , ,

Weight Reducing Cookbooks are Simply too Good to Ignore

March 5, 2012 By

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

NEWS FEATURE:

The health of billions of people is compromised every year by obesity and being overweight. Medical experts estimate that more obese and overweight people die from their affliction than people who are underweight. However, there are solutions, and in many cases this is as simple as knowing what to eat and controlling portion sizes.

Obesity and being overweight are preventable, and yet, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that there are more than 1.5 billion adults, over the age of 20 years, who are struggling to maintain their weight.

WHO  also state that more than 65 percent of the world’s population reside in countries where obesity and being overweight kills more people than those who are underweight.

Annette Sym, author of the ‘Symply Too Good To Be True’ low-fat cookbooks, who works as a lecturer for Weight Watchers, says that her life experiences with being overweight have driven her to help others.

“I have been writing low-fat cookbooks for 14 years now,” said Sym. “So I know a huge amount about cooking healthy recipes and also how to lose weight and keep it off,” she said. “My own life experience of losing 35 kilos in 20 months has given me so much ‘inside’ information. I have maintained my healthy weight range for over 19 years.”

“I was a chubby child, a cuddly teenager, and for many years, an obese adult. My life was completely ruled by ‘food’,” said Sym. “I changed my life for the better when I lost weight and got fit and healthy,” she said. “I am passionate about helping others to do the same, hence my low-fat cookbook series.”

“I am fit, healthy and happy, and I want everyone else to know how good it is to have abundant energy and to be proud of yourself.”

The ‘Symply Too Good to Be True’ series of cookbooks is about eating yourself slim says Sym.

“So many people think that ‘low fat’ is tasteless and boring. I wanted to prove to everyone that my way of cooking means you don’t have to miss out on the food you love,” said Sym. “You just cook or prepare it differently and you can remove the guilt from cooking and basically ‘eat yourself slim’,” she said.

“Life is good when you can eat guilt free chocolate cake. You don’t have to be deprived or miss out any longer,” said Sym. “This is what helps people to be able to stick at a long-term weight loss program.”

“My recipes are super easy to make so even the busiest person can cook my recipes,” said Sym. “Plus they are economical, and all the ingredients are available in the supermarket,” she said. “People often say how great this is and how it helps them be more motivated to cook my healthy low-fat way”.

Sym says that she turned a weakness of hers into a strength.

“I turned my greatest weakness ‘food’ into my greatest strength. I want to help as many people as I can to do the same,” said Sym. “Just looking at the stats on how overweight Australian’s are becoming motivates me to make a difference. 60% of Aussies are overweight, so I have a big job ahead of me. I say ‘bring it on’. If I can do it, so can others,” said Sym.

“I am constantly striving to give people as much information, motivation and skills to be as healthy as they possibly can be, ” said Sym. “This is why I run my 3-day workshop retreats. Then I can be with these people for three whole days and get into their heads, which is where all the decisions are made,” she said.

The ‘Symply Too Good to be True’ series consists of six books that teach you how to cook healthy foods, as well as shop for the right ingredients and understand what you are eating. The recipes include guilt-free low-fat delights such as chocolate and black forest cakes and mango cheesecake.

Sym firmly believes that to effectively lose weight and keep it off you have to think and act like a healthy person. This means that dieting is out of the question because it makes you fat and unhappy.

“If you aim to have at least 40% raw foods in your diet each day that means you are making a lot of healthy choices. Fruit, vegetables and salad should be a major part of your eating regime,” said Sym. “For example on your dinner plate you want to see lots and lots of colours, and less white and brown.”

“PORTION CONTROL is also really important,” said Sym. “Make sure you look at having the right amounts of food. We have upsized so much with our food that we need to get back to normal portions,” she said. “I would suggest if you are unsure and need a helping hand then follow a menu plan.”

To keep herself fit and active Sym says she has learned to prioritise and find exercise that she enjoys.

“I find if I put exercise into my diary that means it will happen,” said Sym. “We are so time poor these days that by entering this into my diary means I am committed and it is included in my busy schedule,” she said. ” Plus, when I finish work I make sure I close the door behind me. I have a home-based business, so once that door is closed this means that work is over and I am home.”

“I walk with my husband and two dogs at least four times a week. We have a small gym in our house so I do a weight session at least once a week, and when it rains or it is really hot outside I crank up the air conditioner and I do a Wii fit workout,” said Sym. “It keeps me fit.”

“I don’t like to mix weights with cardio though. I feel you get better results if you do them separately,” she said.

Filed Under: National News Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

S2H Replay is the ‘Be Fit’ Incentive of the 21st Century

February 13, 2012 By

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

NEWS FEATURE: 

Being inactive and consuming a poor diet are the two main lifestyle risks that contribute to obesity in Australia.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than 90 percent of Australians have inadequate fruit and vegetable intake and some 70 percent lead sedentary or inactive lifestyles.

Maree Mamo, general manager for Rewarding Health, the Australian distributor for the S2H Replay and Step systems, believes that the answer to getting Australians ‘off the couch’ is to reward them for their activity. Mamo says she has done this by introducing the Replay and Step into Australian culture.

“It’s all about providing motivation to get off the couch and get active,” said Mamo. “The more active you are, the more rewards you earn. Rewarding Health is excited by the potential that the $39.95 Replay and Step can have on decreasing the overweight rate in Australia, as well as making sport even more rewarding,” she said.

The S2H Replay and Step are two revolutionary devices developed in America. These devices, which are bright and colourful, record physical activity, and after 60 minutes of movement the device displays a code that the user then uploads to an online account. These points then accumulate and, later, they can be redeemed for rewards such as gift cards and goods from major Australian retailers.

Retailers that are in on the act include Myers, JB Hifi, EB Games, Target, Officeworks, and David Jones says Mamo, who brought the S2H Replay and Step to Australia because she wanted to motivate others, especially those she loved.

“A person close to my heart, like many others his age, spends a lot of his time in front of a screen,” said Mamo. Be it the computer, game console, phone, or TV. Technology is certainly a part of life, but unfortunately it has contributed too many of us, especially young people, losing their battle with balance between inactivity and physically activity,” she said. “We, who love them, want them to be healthy and fit, but we struggle with how to motivate them. My personal experience is why I feel so passionate about S2H Replay and Step and why I am proud to bring these products to Australia.”

“The Replaydetects and measures physical activity, and then, it produces a code, which can be uploaded online to receive points. The Step, on the other hand, measures the number of footsteps taken, and it is great for those that prefer to walk. Points can then be redeemed online for cool gift cards, products and prizes,” said Mamo.

“The S2H rewards program takes the things young people enjoy, and turns them into motivation to get physically active,” she said. “Whether your loved one likes video games, toys, books or clothes, those items now become the motivator to help them get active.”

“Rewarding Health is proud to be the exclusive Australian distributor bringing the Replay, and soon the Step, to families nationwide.”

Mamo feels that the S2H Replay and Step will provide Australians with the extra motivation that they need to get active.

Dr Peter Dingle, a retired professor who holds a Bachelor of Education, and Science with Honours, says that health is the most important thing we have. Without it, says Dingle, we have nothing. Even a small decline in our health limits us and detracts from our life.

Dingle says that his drive to educate on better ways to live is driven by misinformation.

“There is so much wrong information out there,” said Dingle. “Starting with the food pyramid, right through to weight control and cholesterol. You need to know what is right and how to maintain your health,” he said.

“I have researched goals and motivation for 20 years, and when I explain the basics and why it works, not to mention the benefits of all aspects of health, it becomes a big motivator,” he said. “Diets kill. A nutritional program heals.”

“For most people there is no such thing as balance,” said Dingle. “We are designed to work 3-4 hours a day, but often work more than 12 when we include office and home work. I see health more as life integration so that you are able to build your health during your day,” he said. “You don’t just do exercise at the end of the day when you’re already tired. Instead, always have healthy food, not what the ads tell you are healthy. Always look for an opportunity for some walking, for some quiet time, and for being healthy.”

Professor Dingle, an advocate for sustainable health, feels that a mixture of exercise and good foods will lead to a healthy lifestyle and a long-lived life.

“I walk a lot, jog a bit, and surf a bit, play basketball a bit. Do lots of bits and always have healthy food available,” said Dingle. “I have quiet time every day for gratitude and to help create that life that I want.”

He also recommends drinking lots of water and no soft or energy drinks, and walking often.

“Walk everywhere you can. Build it into your day,” said Dingle. “Eat fresh, eat raw, as much as you can, “he said. “ Raw salads are full of enzymes and add to your energy. Eat the salad before you eat any processed foods.”

This advice, coupled with the S2H Replay and Step, could lead to a healthier more active Australia, and see the younger and older generations enjoying more quality time as they take control of their lifestyles and develop their health and fitness levels.

Filed Under: National News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The Cost of Being Overweight or Obese in Australia

January 30, 2012 By

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

NEWS FEATURE:

Health expenditure in Australia increased from $72.2 billion in 1999-2000 to $121.4 billion in 2009-2010. Australians spent $116.3 billion on health goods and services during the 2009-2010 financial year, and this amount is expected to rise in during the 2012.

This increase in health expenditure is attributed to the fact that Australian waistlines are expanding and there is an increasing demand on health goods and services.

Sally Symonds, a healthy life mentor, who has been in the fitness industry since July 2010, knows firsthand how costly being obese can be.

“I moved into the industry in 2010 when I launched my first book, 50 Steps to Lose 50kg . . . And Keep It Off,” said Symonds. “In 2002, I was a morbidly obese workaholic. I then lost 45 kilograms in 33 weeks, kept that weight off for five years, before losing another 8.5 kilograms. I have been described as “the complete weight loss package” because I’ve lost a lot, lost a little bit more, and, then, most importantly, kept it off,” she said.

“Having been “morbidly obese” — that’s the medical term for being so obese you are going to die from being overweight. I recognised that life was too short and I felt a need to fit as much in to my own life as I could,” said Symonds.

Symonds own experiences with inadequate guidance as she struggled with her weight lead to her becoming a weight loss coach.

“In terms of helping others, it is infinitesimally rewarding,” she said. “I was motivated to move into the industry and open my own weight loss coaching business by my own frustration. I feel that the health and fitness, and weight loss industries fail to really provide effective strategies to help people who are overweight.”

As a qualified wellness coach and neuro linguistic programming practitioner, Symonds believes that in order to lose weight and take charge of your life you need to have a mind and body connection.

“Throughout my work there is an emphasis on balancing the physical, practical and psychological.  That’s why it works,” said Symonds. “Too much of what we read about weight loss works well in theory, but fails miserably on a practical and psychological level.”

Sally Symonds confesses that now she is fit and healthy her perfect day would consist of an equal amount of pleasure, work, and exercise.

“My perfect day would be lazy, early morning sex, followed by breakfast number one, which is usually light. Then I would do my own training, before having a bigger breakfast,” she said. “Coaching clients and writing books or articles would take up my time until lunch. After lunch, well, I would spend time lazing around the pool, complete with a swim-up bar, before more sex and a nap before dinner.”

“Of course, if a motivational speaking gig was thrown in once a week, then this would add to the perfect week.”

Symonds says that her exercise regime is varied.

“Mostly I weight train and box.  I also throw in the odd pilates class now and again, and meander with my dog five days a week. She is 11, so at the pace we go this really doesn’t count as exercise,” said Symonds.

When it comes to health goods and services, Symonds recommends consulting the best authority first.

“The only expert in your life is YOU,” she said. “Only you know what is going to work best for you on a physical, practical and psychological level. It is also important to indulge in variety. Too many people do exactly the same exercises day-in and day-out or week-in and week-out. You need to be constantly challenged – both physically and mentally – in order to really reap rewards.”

Filed Under: National News Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts
%d bloggers like this: