Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems (according to Wiki). The measurement of obesity is primarily BMI – Body Mass Index. The formula for determining BMI is divide a person’s weight by the height squared. This is just a guide as it does not always work well in determining excess body fat if the person is primarily muscle. Just like all of the information put out to the general public is a guide made to be easy and simple.
BMI Categories:
• Underweight = <18.5
• Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
• Overweight = 25–29.9
• Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
A report recently published* revealed is America’s BMI is going up. Adult obesity rates increased in 28 states in the past year, and declined only in the District of Columbia (D.C.). Other information reported:
■ 33 States have adult obesity rates above 25%
■ No state had an obesity rate above 20% in 1991
■ Colorado has the lowest rate of obesity at 19.1% of its population being obese
■ The number of adults who report they do not engage in any physical activity rose in 12 states in the past year
■ The number of states where adult obesity rates exceed 30 percent doubled in the past year, from four to eight —
Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia.
■ Ten of the 11 states with the highest rates of diabetes are in the South
■ Ten of the 11 states with the highest rates of hypertension are in the South
■ California’s percentage of obese is 24.4
One way to change these numbers is to eat better . . . I really believe that most of us could eat better . . . and move more. Most of us could move more too. Find something you love to do because odds are if you love it you will stick with it. This is not about looking good it is about reducing a condition that leads to a reduction in life expectancy and/or increased health problems. Feeling good is an added benefit.
Regardless of where you fall on this type of scale, what can you do to eat better? Share here. Tell me what you are going to do in order to improve your diet. What about movement? What type of movement do you love? What can you add to your day? Let me know.
As a Nia teacher I am entitled to listen in on a monthly Nia Teacher Continuing Education call. These teleconference calls are included in the cost of licensing. So I am familiar with teleconference calls and that they have value. I received an e-mail from “The Difference” and it was an invitation to listen in on a teleconference call. The calls were happening at times that I was unavailable so I was unable to listen in on the live call. But they recorded the calls and sent out an e-mail instructing us how to listen to the call.
This is a service. Regardless of how you feel about teleconference calls, you have to know that people sign up for them and pay money to listen. You have to know that all types of information is distributed this way. Regardless of whether you would have paid for a call that has to do with ‘Re-energise & Fall In Love All Over Again’, you have to know that others would. So The Difference provided a type of service.
I was not told that I could not share the information, but I don’t want to get involved in possibly disclosing something I shouldn’t have so I am not going to get into specifics. I am certainly not going to spend my time contacting “The Difference” to see what I can disclose. My purpose for this post is to continue the conversation about “The Difference”. So many people are saying it is a scam and I am not ready to conclude that. I have no proof that it is. This is me sharing that they are doing “SOMETHING”. They offered a call that might not have value to all, but it does have value.
This phone call goes along with my original assessment that being involved as a paying collaborator on The Difference is a type of “self-improvement”/”self-help” thing. In the call Jacqueline Bignell the Founder of The Difference™ interviewed two Australian Difference Makers. One was Heather Yelland (her claim per her website: “Australia’s leading female personal development and mindset specialist”) and the other was Lisa Ippolito, a Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner.
They brought up the main point of loving oneself will assist in the enabling of loving fully and of attracting love back. It is not a new concept and more and more people are starting to talk about it. I just read a post today that was about the very same thing. The blog was saying that is what he saw in the movie “Eat, Pray, Love”. That Elizabeth Gilbert the author of the book came to that realization. Funny how all of this connected in one day. This type of thinking is what Jacqueline is trying to promote with her project The Difference.
The conference call that they did is just an example of what they are doing to help this “opening of your heart” type of thinking along. Again, they are doing something, they are providing something of value. I didn’t even become a collaborator and I still got something out of it.
I started out the day doing my Nia workout. . . . thank God, I got my workout in before brunch.
We went to a friends in San Jose. It was a small gathering so I thought it would be pretty causal, and it was, sort of, this was the spread that met us . . . . pretty fancy, but very relaxed.
We probably could have stayed there visiting all day, but we had to rush off to an early dinner.
We went straight from brunch to dinner in Milpitas. Since the family was done with dinner this is from dinner.
We had a good day. Good food and visiting with friends and family. Very nice. What did you do? What are your traditions?
We do not own an iPad. I believe that our iPhones are enough for us, at the moment. But the company Hubby works for runs Macs and they wanted an office iPad. Not only that, they are so nice they let the employees take it home and experience it. So I was able to use one for a couple of hours. It is really like a big iPhone . . . a really BIG iPhone. It does not take pictures nor is it a phone, but it is really pretty.
Apple seems to have a way with picture quality. I like my monitor, it is fine. I don’t need another one, but when I go to Hubby’s office I do tend to stare at his monitor. It is soooo clear and it makes whatever you are working on so beautiful. I found this to be the case with the iPad. But like my iPhone since the “monitor” is also your keyboard, you end up having to look “through” a lot of finger prints and smudges.
It was already loaded up with someone’s applications and so I basically just looked at a movie and did some internet surfing.
It ran pretty fast, and as I have already mentioned the clarity is awesome.
Some of the things that I am familiar with on the iPhone were different on the iPad and I thought the differences would be useful. The calendar program that comes as part of the iPhone was able to be displayed as if it were a book calendar with the note section on the left and the month on the right. It looked like a regular desk calendar. With the iPhone’s tiny screen you have to change “pages” for list/day/month. I can see how having a “regular desk calendar” would be very helpful. Don’t we all love to look at things “at a glance”.
I LOVED the way the multiple browsers showed. But I bet I would end up with 16 browser windows like I usually do on my regular computer. I think that the iPhone only allows eight and the way they are displayed is linearly and you swipe to move them. But on the iPad they are displayed in a grid format so you can see them all at once. I found that to be one of the most exciting features that I experienced.
Remember, I only had this for a few hours and the applications loaded on it were not mine or even my husband’s so I didn’t go snooping into them all.
The “keyboard” that pops up is a good sized qwerty keyboard and one could touch type one it. I have the need for the feel of the keys in order to type with any speed, but I heard my husband typing away on it just like normal. (And just so you know, he typed REALLY fast!)
I keep coming back to how pretty the “monitor” (display) looked. I actually didn’t even get to see the “naked” iPad because it was “vacuum packed” into is neoprene case and, as I have mentioned, it is not ours so I didn’t want to risk scratching it or anything, so I didn’t take it out of its case to look at it.
I did discover a book in the “library”. It was Whinnie-the-Pooh. Oh, my heart melted and I thought since I was stuck on the couch with the cat was on my lap I could try reading on the iPad. Well, four pages into it, my hand started to hurt. The iPad is very heavy and I could not hold it in one hand and read it like I would hold a book. But unlike the Kindle it has its own backlight, like a computer. (Did I mention how pretty the monitor makes everything look?).
Like a netbook, I can see how people could use an iPad. I can see how business could benefit from it. Since I work from home I am good with my regular computer and my iPhone, which is just like an iPad, but smaller, and it has a camera and a phone. But its picture is not nearly as pretty.
You’ve heard that saying before. If you are like me, you grew up hearing it. Heck, you might have even said it. Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Where did that even come from? I can’t see a dog not learning a new trick if there is a treat involved. Why wouldn’t he learn it just to get the treat? Is he that stubborn? Is he that old?
Well, I think that I have just about heard enough of this saying. I, myself, decided that IF this saying is true I am NOT a dog. A couple of years ago I started learning new things, new tricks, new ways of thinking, new ways of trying things, new ways of experiencing life. So, heck, it dawned on me . . . I AM NOT A DOG!!! . . . either that, or by embracing new things and not remaining set in my ways, I am not old. Yahoo! I think that could very well be one way to help stay young, right?
The FIRST THING to learn is to STOP SAYING THAT. If you say it, you partially believe it. And if you believe then, well, yeah, its true. I hear people say this a lot. I just sigh, because if that is what the person thinks then, that is the way it is. It is as if they have given up even before they try. Because it is such a common phrase we accept it. I want to grab them by the shoulders and shake them and say, “What kind of ‘stuff’ is that coming out of your mouth?” But instead I get an attitude and I say haughtily, “Well, thank God we aren’t dogs!!!!” Sometimes, I see a bit of realization. Sometimes I see that it is recognized that, no, we aren’t dogs, so why can’t we learn something new.
So what do you say? Something new on the agenda today? Something you haven’t tried? Some new thing that you want to make a habit? Have a healthy habit you want to try on for size? Why not? Last I heard dogs can’t read, so . . . . you are not a dog . . . even if you have been on this earth for what we might think of as a long time, that doesn’t mean you can’t stretch your brain, stretch your body . . . . learn, do, enjoy!
A month or so ago I received a call and was told that there is a woman who is going to make a movie about making a difference in the world and that I had been picked to be a collaborator. I was intrigued. I was told it would be a two hour meeting in San Jose at which I would be told about the project and then I would have the opportunity to decide if I wanted to be involved. (This clued me into the fact that there was a price tag.)
Well, I went to this meeting. First of all, I hadn’t seen the information that might have been out there that it would be a small meeting. I also had not seen the website so I had no idea what The Difference was about. I was surprised that it was a small meeting. But for the small amount of people the energy from the women there was amazing. There were all types of different women who do different things to make a difference; there was massage therapist, psychotherapist, feng shui designers, personal assistants, energy workers, Nia teachers (ok, that was me!), etc. Jacqueline Bignell was leading the meeting and she spoke to us in a very conversational manner. She was amazing at presenting her passion. She was great at getting the group excited and yearning for more.
She is going to make a movie, a two-hour docu-drama that she believes will change the world, by providing answers to questions like the following:
–Why are you here?
–What do you think your life’s purpose is?
–What do you do in your life to be truly filled with love and joy?
Her vision is to get 6000 people to collaborate on this, answering these questions. Their ideas, opinions, stories, etc. will be filtered up to a National Group who will filter it up to the World Group and they will filter it up to the script writer. The idea is to have four main characters in the movie. But the idea of the script is not quite formed yet.
Her mission is to touch the lives of 6 Billion people. The idea is that 6000 people can touch 60,000, 60,000 can touch 600,000, 600,000 can touch 6,000,000, and so on, multiplying by 10.
It was an amazing meeting. Her idea incredible, change the world with a movie. A movie collaboration of 6000 people, never been done . . . . .all amazing stuff. And the real idea is to have the 6000 people fund the movie, or at least pay to be collaborators.
In addition to being a collaborator you receive a lot of other things for your part in funding of the movie. Some incredible things . . . .to me what I think of it as is purchasing a self-improvement package where the end result is personal growth, a 6 minute interview on an internet TV show, inclusion in The Difference Website and The Difference Network, and bragging rights that you were a collaborator on this historic project.
But one of the big “sells” is that one’s self, one’s uniqueness would touch 6 Billion people. Now that is a great “sell” and sounds so very appealing, but with the filtering process I am not sure that it is an accurate selling point. I am not confident that my uniqueness, would actually get through the filters. My story could be the one that was filtered out. In addition, I am not confident that all 6 BILLION people will be “touched”. See what I am saying?
If you desire to become a collaborator and you are able, I have no doubt that if you actually participate in all that they are offering it will be an incredible experience. I believe that the training and mentoring that they say they are going to provide would be amazing . . .but you have to commit to do it. This is about a two year commitment.
I admire her for attempting this. I believe that it is an amazing idea.
I look forward to hearing more about this. I look forward to watching the end product. I look forward to seeing the difference The Difference makes.
I had an appointment this morning where I auditioned Nia in Palo Alto. (So I could be teaching a Nia class in Palo Alto in addition to San Carlos . . . interesting how it all unfolds.) On my way back to San Jose, I was able to stop and have lunch with a friend. I am so blessed to be able to spend the afternoon with a friend who so kindly made me lunch. She made an awesome pizza and salad . . . . a perfect meal in my book.
I didn’t know what to post today and so when I got home and had an e-mail from another friend I thought, “Perfect! People REALLY love the Marilyn Monroe Albert Einstein Optical Illusion. They will go crazy for these.”
Tis the season I am sure you know that different alcoholic beverages have different nutiritional value. I am not going to post about the negative issues on alcohol, we all know that it is not the best thing that we can be including in our diet. There are choices that can be made when you know a few things. I just wanted to remind you of a few things. According to Fitday.com
White table wine (3.5 oz) has 85 calories, 2.7 carbs, and no fat
Reisling (3.5 oz) has 80 calories, 3.7 carbs, and no fat
Gewurztraminer (3.5 oz) has 81 calories, 2.6 carbs, and no fat
Red table wine (3.5 oz) has 87.5 calories, 2.7 carbs, and no fat
Merlot (3.5 oz) has 83.3 calories, 2.5 carbs, and no fat
Zinfandel (3.5 oz) has 88.3 calories, 2.8 carbs, and no fat
Burgundy (3.5 oz) has 86.3 calories, 3.7 carbs, and no fat
Eggnog made with whole milk (8 oz) 306.2 calories, 30.7 grams of carbs, and 17 grams of fat. This is not including the alcohol.
An ounce/shot of brandy has 64.2 calories, 0 carbs, and no fat
Online is telling me that 3.4 oz of champagne has 76 calories, 2 carbs, and no fat
I am not sure what type of champagne that is and I know that I typically drink sparkling wine not champagne. I am just sharing sharing some facts since this is the time of year where many people that don’t usually drink might have a drink or two. One way to assist yourself in avoiding alcohol altogether is to volunteer to be the designated driver. That is an additional incentive to not indulge.
Whatever you do, enjoy, but remember moderation is the key. And be responsible.
I don’t have a special “Holiday Drink” but I always hear about people have special drinks they indulge in over the Holiday season. I would love to hear about your special drink. Leave a comment sharing it with us all.
Do you take advantage of the free song that they offer on iTunes. It is a weekly song, but I am not sure when they post it, if it is Monday or Sunday. I don’t always remember to get it, do you? I just now set my calendar to remind me.
I actually haven’t remember that often, I have less than 40 songs, but of those 40 I have six that I absolutely love and listen to over and over. There are more out of the 40 that I like but there are 6 that I think are worth mentioning. And they range across the board and I like them for various reasons. Here they are in no particular order:
Song: Artist:
Neo Violence The Tough Alliance
Mr. Hurricane Beast
Already Home Ha-Ash
Cheater, Cheater Joey & Rory
The Stoop Little Jackie
Wonderful Gary Go
I actually bought the entire Beast CD. It is very moving, I mean, for me, it makes me get up and dance. But not like bounce on your toes disco dance, more like pound-the-ground-get-up-get-down tribal dance or something.
I throw Neo Violence into my Nia routines because it has a very dicernible beat. Very catchy tune. Easy to dance, exercise, and workout too. (So is music from the Beast, but . . . the words might be a bit distracting in a Nia class.)
And the latest is Wonderful by Gary Go, kind of sounds like a lot artists out there now, but I love the words. “Say: ‘I am wonderful.’ You are a miracle.” “Don’t Stop to let it pass you by you gotta look yourself in the eye and say, I am wonderful!” “We are all miracles . . . .we are incredible.” Oh, I just love that!
So, what great find have you downloaded for free off of iTunes? Any you love? Any you would like to tell us about?
Everyone can pretty much go out there and look at all the videos that are posted regarding the Google Wave, but since I have a previous post regarding it, I thought I would add some additional information on my blog that I have since learned. Plus I will link to some of the videos that I have seen.
The first video created by EpipheoStudios.com is a great little explanation of what the wave is. The video is cute. It also sounds like a plea to get an invitation. (Which after watching the Google Wave Overview, I can’t really blame him for begging.)
The next video is from Google and it is almost 8 minutes, but if you watch it, it will have you going, “WHOOOOOAAAAA!”
Here I’ve typed up a summary in case you don’t want to watch the video, but I included a time stamp for each point in case you want to zap to it to see what it is about.
E-mail is 40 years old. Google is trying to “update it”. An e-mail sent is somewhat like a letter. If you send an e-mail to five people there are five copies of the “letter”. But a wave is a “hosted conversation”. There is only one copy and it is in one place. So when people comment on it the comments are stored on one wave and there are not multiple copies floating about. (Time stamp 0:30 of the Google video)
One use could be: You can open a wave to plan a party (Time stamp 0:58). Adding your contacts to the wave allows people to see and comment. You can add a gadget to use it as an invite to a party (Time stamp 1:47) and your invitees can RSVP in the wave. While in the wave you can click on your address which will pop a google map right into your wave (Time stamp 2:19).
After your party, everyone can drag and drop their pictures into the wave (Time stamp 2:39).
You can embed a wave into your blog (Time stamp 3:20)! In an embedded wave comments can be on the blog or the wave (Time stamp 3:35). (UI*)
There is a feature called “Playback” that allows you to see the wave in order of how it was created. So you can see comments added in order even if they were added after a new blip (comment). (Time stamp 4:35)
“Robots” can be added to a wave (Time stamp 5:06). You can tweet and see the people you follow from a wave using a “Robot” (Time stamp 5:25). The video says “Robots can be used to interface with other systems–anything with an API.” (Time stamp 6:41)
There is translation in a wave using Rosy the robot. You can type in English and your contact can receive it in his/her language. (Time stamp 6:49)
*UI = User Interface
Well, if you watched the video, I bet you can see some of the possibilites that the Google Wave has to offer. As the video begins the 80 minute video is mentioned so I am sure that you can imagine there are a lot of other things that wave can do. I will learn about them a little at a time. I am excited about the possibilites.
When I first heard about this I filed it away under “good for big companies”, but as I was watching the video I had some ideas on how I could use it to help grow my business and to help get the word out about Nia. Using the internet to market a local business is very different than using it to market a business where product is shipped or can be downloaded. So this would be a valuable tool . . . . . I can see that now. I am ready to catch the wave!
Terre Pruitt's Blog 