Cleanses and Detoxes and Superfoods….and YOU??

What's in your stash?
What’s in your stash?

Where do you fit in with all these trends? Is it all hype to you? Or are you on Day 3 of your please-don’t-mention-food-to-me juice cleanse?

Does your diet have enough color, variety, antioxidants, nutrition, ahem, produce to keep you healthy? It is so hard to know in this age of powders and mega-nutrients packaged affordably and at eye-level, making us question whether we really are getting enough sea vegetables in our daily intake of normal-people food.

I myself have bought into it, to a degree. I mean, I have my shelves of nutritional supplements, including Spirulina, chia seeds and “Power Fuel.” I do feel good about these few add-ins, but in truth, I wonder if I even need to take my daily multivitamin anymore, now that I’m hyperconscious of every bite I take, and now that plants have become the largest slice on the pie chart that is my diet. If I consciously eat bell peppers simply because I haven’t had enough color in my diet yet today, I think it’s likely I’m at a point where my diet doesn’t need supplementing.

But what if it does? The constant barrage of news and findings in the media keeps us wondering, and there’s just something about second-guessing when it comes to your health. You don’t want to do it.

So, what’s my advice? As usual, everything in moderation. That means, if your heart is telling you it’s time for a juice cleanse, then try it. But don’t do 30 days; do 10 days. Take a look at the supplements out there, then take a look at your diet. Know that the supplements are not going to do the work of a good diet. They are not going to keep you healthy if you swallow them and then sit down to a greasy hamburger. My advice is to always eat consciously, aware of the nutrients you are consuming. Only then can you decide if your diet is lacking in something. If you scan the aisles at Whole Foods the sheer number of supplements available can be overwhelming…even enticing. But necessary? I’m not so sure.

Meet a Real Fitness Girl: Chrissy

This girl's on a roll.
This girl’s on a roll.

Chrissy has been working out with me for about a year now. Her workouts range from Jazzercise to Roller Derby, and I’ve watched her lose weight and change hair colors over this time. What follows is her real-life exercise story.

KTFG: When did you start really getting into working out?
CW: I have worked out off and on since high school. I belonged to Gold’s Gym back then. I have had many ups and downs on the scale and in my physical ability. On August 1 2012 I started my latest (and last!) re-start to exercising and eating better.

KTFG: What was your workout of choice?
CW: Early in my workout days I did aerobics and slugged away at the stair climber. My father was a body builder so I have dabbled in weight lifting since I was a kid. I much prefer the aerobics and have always enjoyed the social aspect of fitness classes.

This go round I have been doing Karen’s Core and More Class and Jazzercise. Both are hard but are fun and social. I think the one thing I am missing is I need to add in a once a week yoga class. Oh, and spinning, I was on a spinning kick for a while and miss it. I bet my padded shorts are too big now… ok, sorry. I am addicted to workout gear.

Recently (July 2013) I joined the Roller Derby Rec League. It is an awesome way to burn some calories while having fun. I will roller skate for hours but refuse to run. Ok, well, if some bad guys were chasing me I would run but… only if I had no choice.

KTFG: What do you do when you feel like sitting on the couch, but you know you really should get up and exercise?
CW: This particular scenario is not my issue (right now). I have built my days around exercising. I put my workout clothes on in the morning, drop my daughter off at school and head to Jazzercise. I HATE being out in public in workout clothes IF I am not working out soon. I much prefer real clothes and get super mad at myself if I wear workout clothes and do not work out.
However you do need to build in a day off where you have permission to “sit on the couch” or whatever variation of that recharges you or you will go crazy.

KTFG: How do you self-motivate?
CW: Presents! I buy myself new stuff the MINUTE anything gets too big. I am addicted to buying new workout stuff. I am really looking forward to rewarding myself with some of the nice expensive stuff when I get closer to my goal weight. For now I hit Marshall’s every couple of weeks.

KTFG: Where do you see yourself down the line in terms of physical health?
CW: I am strangely healthy for someone who has so much weight to lose. But I do want to maintain and improve my health. I want to be one of those people that looks like they are getting younger rather than older.

KTFG: What are your goals?
CW: I have long had a “secret” goal of becoming a Weight Watchers leader. But you have to get to and stay at “goal weight” to do that and I have not managed that yet. Also I am working towards becoming a Jazzercise instructor. So I guess my answer is that I want to be healthy and fit enough to be a Weight Watchers leader and Jazzercise instructor so that I can help other people change their lives too.

KTFG: How does weight training fit in with your other workouts?
CW: I do hand weights in various ways to at least 2 – 3 songs per workout.

KTFG: How does it make a difference?
CW: It helps improve my strength in everyday life. I live in a townhouse and lugging groceries up the stairs is much easier when I am working my arms with weights.

KTFG: What advice would you give to someone who knows she needs to be exercising/eating a healthy diet but just can’t imagine how to begin?
CW: 1. Find a way to make it social. Walking with a friend, taking a class, anything that gets you moving AND is fun.
2. Make your workout time concrete on your schedule.
3. Believe that you deserve to be healthy and happy! And when you are, you will be a better you for yourself and everyone around you!