Why it's not just about being 'fat'

National Institutes of Health has this to say about the matter:  

What Are the Health Risks of Overweight and Obesity?

"Being overweight or obese isn't a cosmetic problem. These conditions greatly raise your risk for other health problems.

Overweight and Obesity-Related Health Problems in Adults

Coronary Heart Disease

As your body mass index rises, so does your risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). CHD is a condition in which a waxy substance called plaque (plak) builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart.
Plaque can narrow or block the coronary arteries and reduce blood flow to the heart muscle. This can cause angina (an-JI-nuh or AN-juh-nuh) or a heart attack. (Angina is chest pain or discomfort.)
Obesity also can lead to heart failure. This is a serious condition in which your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs.

High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it can damage the body in many ways.
Your chances of having high blood pressure are greater if you're overweight or obese.

Stroke

Being overweight or obese can lead to a buildup of plaque in your arteries. Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture, causing a blood clot to form.
If the clot is close to your brain, it can block the flow of blood and oxygen to your brain and cause a stroke. The risk of having a stroke rises as BMI increases.

Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which the body's blood glucose, or blood sugar, level is too high. Normally, the body breaks down food into glucose and then carries it to cells throughout the body. The cells use a hormone called insulin to turn the glucose into energy.
In type 2 diabetes, the body's cells don't use insulin properly. At first, the body reacts by making more insulin. Over time, however, the body can't make enough insulin to control its blood sugar level.
Diabetes is a leading cause of early death, CHD, stroke, kidney disease, and blindness. Most people who have type 2 diabetes are overweight.

Abnormal Blood Fats

If you're overweight or obese, you're at increased risk of having abnormal levels of blood fats. These include high levels of triglycerides and LDL ("bad") cholesterol and low levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol.
Abnormal levels of these blood fats are a risk factor for CHD. For more information about triglycerides and LDL and HDL cholesterol, go to the Health Topics High Blood Cholesterolarticle.

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that raises your risk for heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke.
You can develop any one of these risk factors by itself, but they tend to occur together. A diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is made if you have at least three of the following risk factors:

• A large waistline. This is called abdominal obesity or "having an apple shape." Having extra fat in the waist area is a greater risk factor for CHD than having extra fat in other parts of the body, such as on the hips.
• A higher than normal triglyceride level (or you're on medicine to treat high triglycerides).
• A lower than normal HDL cholesterol level (or you're on medicine to treat low HDL cholesterol).
• Higher than normal blood pressure (or you're on medicine to treat high blood pressure).
• Higher than normal fasting blood sugar (or you're on medicine to treat diabetes).

Cancer

Being overweight or obese raises your risk for colon, breast, endometrial, and gallbladder cancers.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common joint problem of the knees, hips, and lower back. The condition occurs if the tissue that protects the joints wears away. Extra weight can put more pressure and wear on joints, causing pain.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep.
A person who has sleep apnea may have more fat stored around the neck. This can narrow the airway, making it hard to breathe.

Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is a breathing disorder that affects some obese people. In OHS, poor breathing results in too much carbon dioxide (hypoventilation) and too little oxygen in the blood (hypoxemia).
OHS can lead to serious health problems and may even cause death.

Reproductive Problems

Obesity can cause menstrual issues and infertility in women.

Gallstones

Gallstones are hard pieces of stone-like material that form in the gallbladder. They're mostly made of cholesterol. Gallstones can cause stomach or back pain.
People who are overweight or obese are at increased risk of having gallstones. Also, being overweight may result in an enlarged gallbladder that doesn't work well.

Overweight and Obesity-Related Health Problems in Children and Teens

Overweight and obesity also increase the health risks for children and teens. Type 2 diabetes once was rare in American children, but an increasing number of children are developing the disease.
Also, overweight children are more likely to become overweight or obese as adults, with the same disease risks."

It is my passion to help people get healthier and be able to battle obesity for a healthier life!  I use a proven program that has given many, many clients results for 35 years.  If you are concerned about your weight, your health and want to increase your odds at living a long, happy life, please contact me.  You can find my information.  Do get in touch and I'll get you started on your healthy results.  The affects of being overweight are sad and alarming and can be prevented by learning the steps to take to get the unhealthy weight off.  You are not alone.  I am a wellness coach and will work with you as long as you are willing to put forth the work for yourself.  It will be work, but it will be worth it!

Women, you are all Beautiful!

Believe it and you will be even more beautiful.  What is the definition of beauty?  You get to choose, you choose what is beautiful to you.  Be your own kind of beautiful and own it, live it, breathe it!  If you are dissatisfied, change something.  Smile more!  Be happy inside and out and show that beauty with your radiant smile and attitude of kindness towards everyone.  

I found some cousins, family members who I've lost touch with for over 30 years, found them on facebook.  It makes me happy!  They are beautiful, beautiful women.  I hope we can get together, stay in touch and that in some small way I can build them up and we can encourage and love each other as family and friends.  I have a huge family.  My mother has 7 siblings and my dad has 7 as well and my parents are 78 years old.  All of my aunts and uncles have large families so I have a lot of cousins and I'm even getting to find first cousins once removed, my cousin's children.  Social media is great for reconnecting and feeling like a family get together, like when we were kids.  

Every woman has something wonderful to offer others.  Give to those who love and appreciate you and give to those who need a lift.  Give a smile, a friendly hello or a helping hand.  

Believe that you are beautiful and you will be able to do amazing things.  Beautiful means so many different things, not just surface beauty on the outside.  The most wonderful women are those who love and serve and help others as part of their very being.  They uplift and share, communicate and teach, build others and don't put themselves first.  Me time is great, but as we give and build others, we have so much more beautiful substance to share.

Be Better

What is life were 'easy'?  Do you wish things could be 'easier' for you?  Do you feel like life is 'easier' for everyone around you?  Why does it sometimes seem like others have it easier than I do?  Do they really have it easier?  Probably not.  Everyone has their own set of problems and challenges in life.  It is a journey and a process for us to experience.  When I feel like others have it better or easier than I do, I take a look around me, pause and feel gratitude for what I do have in my life.  If I want things to be easier or better for me, it is up to me to change my attitude, my outlook, my work ethic, my patience, my persistence, my passion, my focus,.  Things can be easier as I get better and better with my focus and time management.  Is it hard to do?  Sure it can be hard.  But I can decide to make a change and make it.  I shouldn't wait for a crisis or a need to be better.  I decide to be better for me and for my family and friends.  You can choose to be better at something.  Look for ways you can improve your life, your family, your surroundings and your focus.  Seek after things that uplift and bring you joy.  Delete or get rid of things that drag you down or that don't add beauty and good to your life.  You have the power if you have the courage to let go of the past and make the changes needed for yourself for today and for your future.  It really doesn't matter what happened yesterday, last week, last month or last year.  You have the power to change and be better for today, for tomorrow and for your future.  "Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better"  -Jim Rohn

I like this thought.  It speaks to me!

I love to Zumba!

I love, love, love to do and teach Zumba!!  Yes!  I got myself certified last June and I've been holding classes with my friends and it's just a blast!  The certification class was held last June right here in Las Vegas and it was grueling and so much fun!  I had my Herbalife products with me for nutrition, energy and endurance and I felt great!  Zumba is my favorite way to work out and release the tension and built up energy of my day.  I have had compliments on my style and energy during the classes I teach.  My church group of women is amazing and we really have a lot of fun.  I sweat more than I ever have with any other kind of workout and I KNOW that's the fat burning zone!  Do Zumba, stay in that zone longer!  Burn the fat and calories.  We have to sweep the floor after class because of all the calories and fat lost during class!  Lol.  I'm over 50 and I feel fantastic.  No excuses, join a class, go for a walk/run, swim, play outside with your kids, ride a bike, go to Zumba!  Find out what you LOVE to do, then do it!  I lead classes in Las Vegas, NV in Winter and Reedsport, OR during the Summer months.  If you want in, I'm here to help you!  How much fun is Zumba?  It's better than therapy, yet you get all the benefits of feeling GREAT when you are done!   Your family will thank you for going! 

 

Resistance or Flow?

Today I watched a bird flying in the wind.  It flew against the wind for a bit, but as you know, when the wind is strong, birds don't fly against the wind, they are still, not moving much, with their wings outstretched staying in place as the wind keeps them there.. The bird was at a stand still when it flew against the wind.  Then the bird made a smooth turn and let the wind carry him as he eased across the sky and I imagined his happiness at the ease of flying with the wind.  I don't know what it means, but it made me happy to see the bird.  It almost seemed to like to turn and be at a stand still once in a while and take in the resistance of the wind.
Do we appreciate our surroundings and just stand still and be happy in our moments now and then?
I feel like taking control of when we take it all in and stand still, then turn and run with the flow of our blessings coming to us in our lives is up to us.  Watching the bird was joyful, peaceful.  I put myself in his position and didn't feel like the winds were pushing me, but that I was working WITH the winds of change and circumstance for my life.  Just an observation today.  Felt good to Look Up and notice nature and life around me.  I saw the bird at the Dumont Sand Dunes in Southern California today.  My husband and I were picking up a rental trailer out there together.  We spent the day together and it was great!

Small things bring the biggest joy!

Little things are the biggest joys!  I love seeing the little faces of my grandkids.  Their smiles are shining and full of wonder and light.  The look of a child who is seeing new things for the first time is priceless.  They are pure, sweet, open and love the things they are experiencing for the first time, full of wonder and amazement.  My daughter-in-law posted of her 2 year old daughter looking into the Sea Lion Caves on the Oregon Coast.  Her little face was full of amazement and wonder as she looked through the fence at the Sea Lions.  Seeing her see something for the first time is so sweet.  She looked amazed, all a wonder.  What if we all looked at things in our lives with new wonder and amazement?  Would we feel the newness of a flower, a sunset, a smile from a friend, a hug from our spouse, a smile from a stranger, a kind word from a loved one?  Would we help others to feel of our amazement at life?  Giving others the simple and small things to bring more joy into their lives will bring us more joy at the small and simple things.  Call a friend, call a family member, hug your kids, smile and laugh with your family, be silly sometimes, run outside into the rain or snow, be positive and loving, give others the benefit of the doubt, don't be so sensitive, smile more.  Little things can bring us the greatest joy.  These things do not cost money.  Decide to be happy and to remember what it's like to enjoy the simple little things everyday that are such blessings to us.  Be positive and less critical, happy and less sad, motivated and less lazy, full of love and less cynical, more creative and less annoyed at life.  There is beauty all around, right in front of us.  Children grow up before our eyes.  Enjoy every stage and every moment.  Enjoy every smile, every hug.  Pay attention to their little voices when they talk to you.  Make them feel safe, loved and important at a very early age.  THEY are the future of your family and will grow up to raise their children the way you've raised them, and improve upon that even.  As I watch my adult children teach and nurture their own children, I see them doing an even better job than I did.  I am so grateful for this.  I see them teaching by example and by helping them to understand with patience.  Small things do bring the biggest joy!  This phrase spoke to me and makes me think of my children and grandchildren.  They are my biggest joys!