| How many times have you heard, "you just need | | | | too late to change. In fact, it's essential that you |
| to eat right and exercise?" It's become the | | | | develop a new relationship with your body. Not |
| mantra for our health conscious culture. But for | | | | only will regular exercise improve your health, but, |
| most of us it sounds like we're being sentenced | | | | you'll feel better and look better. Think of regular |
| to a life of hard labor--pumping iron and sweating | | | | exercise as an investment in your long-term |
| away on the stair master plus boring | | | | health and well-being. A few minutes a day of |
| eating--broccoli, low fat cottage cheese, broiled | | | | some simple exercise will be extremely beneficial |
| chicken. Doesn't sound like much fun. Investing in | | | | not only physically but mentally as well. As you |
| your health has to become more of a journey | | | | incorporate exercise into your life you will |
| towards well-being and less of a task if you're | | | | experience more energy, as well as other |
| going to make this a life long commitment. | | | | physical, mental and spiritual benefits. |
| Most of us take our bodies for granted. We burn | | | | Life After Death |
| the proverbial candle at both ends. We throw | | | | During the two months before my birthday I |
| down fast food, only move when absolutely | | | | decided to really have a "feel sorry for myself" |
| necessary and expect that there won't be any | | | | crying session. Then I made an appointment to |
| consequences to our neglect. But there are. | | | | see a doctor for my annual checkup. I asked to |
| Maybe not immediately, especially if you're in your | | | | see a woman doctor. Surely a woman could do |
| 20s or 30s when you still have a warranty on | | | | something for me. I was tired all the time, |
| your body, but sooner or later it's going to expire | | | | weighed about 200 pounds and I was becoming |
| and your disregard for your health is going to | | | | more and more depressed. |
| catch up with you. Think about it for a minute, | | | | The day came for my checkup. Mary Dailey, |
| would you drive your car when the oil light is | | | | Nurse Practitioner, checked me for everything. |
| flashing? Not likely. Would you put low-grade gas in | | | | She was wonderful. She told me that I had a |
| a Ferrari? Never. However, amazingly, we all to | | | | good reason to be tired and wanted to consider |
| often abuse and ignore our most precious vehicle. | | | | hospitalizing me. My blood count was low, my |
| Your physical health is fundamental. Your body is | | | | estrogen level was really bad. I was 60 pounds |
| the vehicle through which you express yourself | | | | overweight and on and on and on. Well, then and |
| and your life. When something's wrong with your | | | | there we started iron, estrogen, calcium and daily |
| body, when you're in pain or feeling out of sorts, | | | | vitamins. I call these my turn-40-year-old-meds. I |
| you can bet that everything else in your life is | | | | told her I would start an exercise program right |
| affected. Your health needs to be one of your | | | | away. "Oh, no you don't," she said. "Not until we |
| top priorities. Caring for your body is critical to | | | | get all of this other stuff in order. You're not going |
| living a high quality life. When you're in a state of | | | | to be able to handle an exercise class for a while." |
| optimal health just about everything else in your | | | | I made an appointment to see her in another |
| life is better. But like everything else this requires | | | | three months. |
| effort. For those of you who have ignored your | | | | Three months went by and I couldn't wait for |
| body, now's the time to rediscover it. Here are a | | | | Mary Dailey to release me. I visited our local kick |
| few suggestions for creating optimal health. | | | | boxing, tae boe, exercise center and bought all |
| Make Exercise Fun | | | | the equipment. I paid the $200 yearly fee for a |
| Exercise is a key component for living a high | | | | brand new start on a brand new me. Or so I |
| quality life. You can't expect to be healthy if | | | | thought. Ms. Dailey didn't think it was such a good |
| you're sedentary. In case you need some | | | | idea for me to start just yet. "Not yet. Things are |
| encouragement, did you know that people who | | | | looking better but your iron is still way to low." |
| exercise regularly get sick less frequently and | | | | Her words burst my bubble. "Come on, I'm over |
| experience less depression, anxiety and fatigue? | | | | 40 and things are looking pretty thick and saggy." |
| They have fewer weight problems and in general | | | | I thought to myself. It was horrible but I had to |
| have a more positive outlook on life. Did you | | | | wait. |
| know that regular exercise also slows the aging | | | | The next doctor's appointment was three months |
| process and helps you to not only look, but, feel | | | | later. I was released to start an exercise program. |
| younger. Did you know that exercise is a great | | | | "Great," I thought. "This is going to be awesome. |
| stress reducer? Women who are physically fit say | | | | In six months I should weigh about 140 pounds |
| that regular exercise is the most important thing | | | | and look 10 years younger." I put on my sweats, |
| they've ever done to enhance their life. | | | | wrapped my hands, grabbed my towel and |
| While regular exercise is important for everyone, | | | | boxing gloves and headed to my kickboxing class. |
| it is especially crucial for women. Women lose | | | | These classes are incredible. Have you ever been |
| muscle tissue as they age. While some loss is due | | | | to a class like this? The first row is 100 to 120 |
| to normal aging, more is ascribed to inactivity. We | | | | pounders. The second row is your 125 to 150 |
| have to move our body on a regular basis in | | | | pounders and in the very back are your over |
| order to maintain our health and sense of | | | | heated, out of breath, out of shape, not keeping |
| well-being. | | | | up, 160 to 200 pounders. Half way through this |
| While we're barraged with an ever-changing list of | | | | class I was dying. I dragged myself to the car |
| fitness regimens it's important to find a program | | | | coughing and fighting for breath. I could barely |
| that you enjoy and will stick to. One of the keys | | | | drive. I got home and lay on the floor. I couldn't |
| to maintaining an exercise routine is not only to | | | | move for two hours. "Ok, ok," I told myself. "I'll |
| do something that you like, but, to have a | | | | be like this for a couple of weeks." I tried to |
| workout buddy--someone who will keep you | | | | convince myself things would get better. |
| honest. On those days when you'd rather spend | | | | By week three, I had worked myself up to a |
| an extra hour in bed, you'll get into your workout | | | | half-hour before I left the building wheezing, |
| clothes if you know you're friend is waiting for | | | | crawling to my car. I decided this wasn't going to |
| you at the gym or to go for a walk or run. | | | | work. I was six pounds lighter but I couldn't stand |
| As a woman, you need to include some form of | | | | the idea of facing another class. That was it! Six |
| weight training that'll help you to maintain muscle | | | | months of waiting to start this stupid class and |
| tone and overall strength. The increase in muscle | | | | now I just couldn't go on. What was going to |
| strength that you gain from weight training is | | | | happen to me? I didn't want to give up. But the |
| especially beneficial to women who are often | | | | thought of exercising to TV and tapes just didn't |
| weak in their upper bodies. If, like many of us, | | | | motivate me. |
| you need variety to keep you engaged in | | | | Then I had an idea. When I was in college, I was |
| exercise you may want to try a combination of | | | | an aerobics instructor. What if I got together with |
| walking and weight training, or jogging, swimming, | | | | a couple of friends just to work out? I knew the |
| biking, or a samba class. Do what you can do on | | | | perfect place for our workout, The Salvation |
| a consistent basis. But do something. | | | | Army Recreation Center. I visited Judy Ponce, the |
| Have you noticed that yoga, a once obscure | | | | Social Services Coordinator. She gave me |
| Indian practice is now sweeping the nation? Yoga | | | | permission to use their facility. The last week of |
| has become extremely popular and an effective | | | | August 200, I started exercising with seven other |
| tool for staying fit while becoming more relaxed. | | | | ladies every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I |
| Everyone from Madonna to model Christie | | | | worked hard putting low impact, high-energy |
| Turlington, have become devotees, with good | | | | routines together. However, this wasn't the most |
| reason. | | | | difficult part of the class. I felt intimidated. I |
| Yoga is easy to do. You can take a class or use a | | | | wondered, "How can I lead an aerobic class |
| video tape and practice at home. Many gyms and | | | | looking like this?" I realized my attitude needed |
| community centers offer classes. Yoga is | | | | healing as much as my health. I wasn't the best |
| something you can do at your own pace. What's | | | | qualified, but I was willing. Before long, the |
| more, people of any age or fitness level can do | | | | Salvation Army was getting calls asking about the |
| yoga. Not only will yoga keep you limber and | | | | class and we started to see our numbers grow. |
| flexible, but, the postures require concentration | | | | For New Years I decided to place a small |
| and attention to your breathing. An inevitable | | | | classified ad "FREE Aerobic Class" to encourage |
| result of practicing yoga is that you'll feel a | | | | people with resolutions. I drove up to the center |
| greater connection between your mind and body | | | | on January 3, 2001. I thought The Salvation Army |
| and an increased sense of inner peace. Give it a | | | | had planned an event on my exercise night and |
| try! | | | | forgot to tell me. I couldn't even find a parking |
| Another way to stay motivated and exercise | | | | place. There were so many people. As I unlocked |
| regularly is to reconnect with what you loved to | | | | the door, I turned around and asked, "Is |
| do as a kid. Remember how active we once | | | | everybody here for the exercise class?" I got 70 |
| were? It wasn't that we had to make ourselves | | | | yes's. Can you believe it? 70 people started |
| do something. Most of us rode bikes, played | | | | exercising with me. |
| softball, were cheerleaders, we took ballet or tap | | | | So here I am, celebrating one year. I am 40 |
| lessons. We climbed trees, ran around with our | | | | pounds lighter. My energy and self-esteem have |
| friends, skied, swam, rode horses, played | | | | climbed through the roof. The local news did a |
| basketball, jumped rope. We were just naturally | | | | story on it and people talk about it to me |
| active. Why not resurrect one of your favorite | | | | wherever I go. My husband said he called for his |
| childhood activities? Join a softball team, get ski | | | | prescription and they asked him if Rita Williams |
| lessons, sign up for ballet, join a tennis team, go | | | | was his wife. They told him that I was their |
| roller blading with your kids or take a spinning | | | | aerobics instructor. I have been asked to do |
| class. Whatever you decide to do, do something | | | | demonstrations for the hospital health fair. The |
| that is fun and involves moving your body. | | | | local diet programs refer their clients to me. |
| When you're pressed for time, walk. It's almost | | | | Not long ago, I had an interview for a job. The |
| become a foreign concept. We've become so | | | | woman interviewing me said, "So your Rita. I've |
| attached to our cars that we rarely walk, but | | | | heard so much about you and your exercise |
| walking is a great form of exercise and can be | | | | classes. You'll never realize how many women's |
| easily incorporated into your daily routine. Walking | | | | lives you have impacted." |
| helps you clear your mind, fills your lungs with | | | | There are now over 250 women enrolled. I now |
| fresh air, gets your blood moving and centers | | | | instruct eight classes a week. We have two more |
| you. You'll be amazed at what you'll learn when | | | | volunteer instructors and a volunteer that |
| you walk through your neighborhood. If you live | | | | provides childcare. These women held a |
| within walking distance of your local market, leave | | | | fund-raiser. They bought the class a brand new |
| your car in the driveway and walk, walk to the | | | | stereo and a ton of new music. |
| post office, walk to pick your kids from school. | | | | With our one-year celebration we chose a name |
| Think about where can you walk from where you | | | | for our class: CardioJam with Rita.... Hold that |
| live. | | | | tummy tight, tight, tight! |
| Finally, if you're a confirmed couch potato, it's not | | | | |