Goals

Hello everyone!!
So last week I spoke about how media effects our view of ourselves and how some of our celebrity role models can help us be a bit more motivated etc. I did also ask that everyone try to choose at least one thing about themselves that they liked to stay positive and encourage themselves. For me, my answer is my legs and hips. I'm proud to say that I manage to walk to and from work every day, a total of about 80 minutes, which has managed to tone my legs. I've always walked and I think walking is one of the easiest and greatest exercises you could do even if it's just a walk to the corner store to get some milk or to walk around the block or to a friend's house down the street. Whichever it is it's great! However your body can get used to things.

There are a few things this week I'd like to touch on. The first being that I'd like to share my experience of going to a gym-like setting to do a.. wait for it.. a bellydance class! I and my awesome step-mom (who was a great sport for coming along!), decided that we'd go and try it out. A friend of mine has her own business, http://barefootdancecompany.com/. And I highly recommend her as a teacher, she was great. The only problem is right now, the cost, however I am truly considering saving up. In the meantime I'll be doing some of what she taught as well as trying out some of my videos again now that I know more about the proper posture. She mentioned a tip as well, drink lots of water the day and night before a work out and class and you'll find you don't sweat nearly as much as you would if you drank only during the workout session as your body wants to expel more of the water. Always good to stay on top of drinking water daily anyway and lots of it especially during the summer. In point, if you're looking for something new and fun ladies, try dancing. And guys if you're reading this.. nothing wrong with trying out latin dancing with a partner or even a zumba class if that sort of thing is for you. Experiment and have fun! So I'd like everyone this week to try at least one thing that is new to you, whether it be a new food, a new exercise or even just trying to get rid of something such as pop out of your diet and see if you can keep it up for a week.

This leads to my next subject, self goals. Here is a link that I discovered while reading the sharecare newsletter:  http://www.sharecare.com/question/biggest-mistake-when-trying-to-lose-weight#cmpid=scnl000 . These are all so true! We need to look into proper goals and try to make them happen and reward ourselves with good healthy rewards. I this week for example got myself a new pair of comfy pjs and a new sports bra to work out in for doing that bellydance class and succeeded in lasting the entire hour without falling over! :)  I've also made a goal to cut pop from my diet as no type of soda is really good. Now once in a while if I have a rum and coke with a friend on an outing or get together, or a dinner out, which is now rare is on occasion, ok. But even then my goal now is to have water or fruit juice where possible. Also try replacing the bad chips and cookies with healthy snacks like apples, carrots or other veggies or fruit or nuts. I'm also going to try cutting out going out to dinner with my parents, as this has become a common thing and not only can become expensive even for one person but also too isn't that healthy eating fast food or deep fried things or even having more oil in certain things. So making food yourself can actually be much healthier and cheaper in the long run and cooking together allows for family bonds as well and encourages eachother. So another goal for this week, not only try something new but set a healthy one such as those examples.

Nextly, I'd like to talk about a few controversial items. I won't be all the time but there are a few things that concern me and this week alone I've found 2 reports and heard of one other. I can't find the link to this one again however, the banning of pop or "soda" in one state in the US, I believe, is a good thing or at least perhaps not banning but reducing the intake of such items to a limited amount per serving. Smaller can portions etc. would reduce the "obesity crisis" I'd like to call it in North America. What do you think of this? Does the government have the right? Or should we be allowed to choose? I often think of the movie Wall-E when I see our future, if you haven't watched it, do so!!! It's not just about a cute robot but about our future and the way we're heading we just might get like that! No exercise, sitting in floating chairs where we're nothing more than balls of flub that can't even walk or do things ourselves drinking a liquid diet!! Can you imagine only having liquid? O_O!!!!

Now another report I came across was just appalling and this is not just for those in Canada though it addresses a country , that I otherwise proudly live in, that is believed to be a country that has a decent standard of living. And yet we find a higher rate of obesity in Northern Canada due to higher prices on ... you guessed it, HEALTHY food! Why are prices cheaper on junk food and why are these items easier to get than healthy foods?  Please read the report here. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybrew/northerners-blast-high-prices-basic-foods-including-20-192120869.html. Something must be done and I say that we should all fight for the prices to be equal like here in the south. Can you really imagine paying for bottles of water (not that I don't support the direct from the tap or filtered water however for convenience in some cases bottled can be useful) at $104.00 for a pack of 24 vs the same amount here for only $3.00? Even on sale here it's not quite even $2!! And we think that $2 for water or $5 for milk here is expensive? It's $18 or more for milk, or even just a simple juice box that here wold be perhaps .30c maybe a dollar is there near $4!! How is this right when also living conditions up there are not the greatest either?

This leads to the last report that I was told about by my manager at work but have yet to see, about how they did a UN study of some sort where a Swedish researcher did a survey and found Canada, yes our beautiful country, to be one of  if not THE worst for poverty and child hunger in the developed world. Yes not obesity, but starving. We have too many families not able to support even a healthy diet let alone give food to their children. This is not including those that just simply don't take care of their children ok, because I know that again this is controversial that some might say, well it's all those people on welfare and doing drugs etc. that are the cause. But is it really? I've been on welfare, and even on my own on welfare and going to a food bank, the food banks weren't even able to provide me a proper healthy meal out of the stuff I was given and even then they are very low stocked. Or they simply don't care and give things to you that you're allergic to. Even something such as peanut butter, do you know that some brands use icing sugar and have more sugar content than actual peanuts!?

That last comment I'm sure will lead into about food allergies but let's leave it at that and touch on that another day as there is lots to talk about concerning that too. Point: we have a lot of work in our country and we have to start somewhere so let's start with ourselves and family, make the right choices and read labels, support our community and support our local farmers where possible. Going to the farmer's market, while I lived in my hometown, was one of the things I LOVED about Saturdays because I could get fresh fruit and veggies and meat, all local and all decent pricing. Even a bottle of milk that I could refill was awesome! We should have that in every community possible!!!

Well folks that's all for now but lots to think about this week! :) I would also love to hear feedback so feel free to comment! Have a great and healthy week! Remember lots of water, and if out in the sun, protect yourself!! :)