Why all the fuss about protein?

As someone who has been in the fitness industry for over 30 years as well as someone who has "formal training" in nutrition and exercise, I felt as though I had a pretty good handle on protein requirement and intake. As a physically active vegetarian, I have been keenly aware that I must make sure I am getting adequate protein in my diet at every meal and most snacks. I felt confident that I was eating properly for my body size and lifestyle.

After turning 50 I often felt unusual muscular fatigue, even with basic activity such as climbing a flight of stairs. I was so perplexed by this that I saw my physician just to make sure there was not a serious health problem underlying my fatigue. He was unable to find anything physically that could be causing my fatigue. I remained baffled and continued looking for answers on my own.  Shortly thereafter, as part of my work with A.T. Still University in "Gerokinesiology", one of the students brought in an article on the importance of protein intake for middle aged and older adults to prevent Sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia is a type of "muscle wasting" that occurs due to many of the physiological changes that takes place as we age.

Fascia....Fascinating

In the world of Fitness and Wellness that I like to call home, we are challenged with attempting to Listen to what our clients are telling us about their body, to Look at their posture and movement patterns and to Provide exercises, techniques, and advise to help them live a life of “whole person health.”

Over the past several years, more and more attention has been given to the “Fascia” of the body. According to Medicine.net, Fascia is the latin word for band or bandage. Fascia is the connective tissue that literally bands us together to help give us shape. In the past, we used to think of connective tissue as sort of a lifeless thing like a rubber band or duct tape that just held muscle to bone or bone to bone in order to help us move. But now we have come to realize what all of my clients know.

“It's ALIVE!”

The fascia forms a complex web beginning deep within the muscle, encapsulating each individual muscle cell, fiber, group of fibers and muscle groups. Through this network, somewhat like fiber optics, it seems to be able to communicate through all parts of the body, affecting joints, posture, mobility, and some might even say organ function.

Books have been written about the concept of fascia – much more in-depth than I can go in to here. So why AM I going into it here?

Because what you know about fascia an help you feel better, function more easily, and train more effectively.

"Not bird, nor plane, nor even frog, it's just little 'ole me, Underdog !"

It took roughly 15 months. Not quite the gestation period of an elephant – but the birthing process was at times arduous. What is “IT” you ask? Well just as our friend in the above quote would say,”Just little 'ole me..”

STARRING IN MY OWN DVD!!!

Yes it is finally here. My first DVD, with more on the way! As with all newborns, it has to have a name and thus it as been christened:

foundations of pilates