Happy February everyone! Hard to believe January 2008 is already behind us. Spring is right around the corner and I'm glad to say everyone is back into the groove after enjoying the holiday season. We've got a couple of important activities going on at the studio this month, so be sure to check these out:

FT Referral Contest

Clients that work with us are very good about sharing their success stories with friends, family, neighbors and co-workers. Well now here is your chance to turn these casual discussions into prizes! Each of us knows someone that can benefit from a healthier life. So during the month of February, we are sponsoring a referral contest. For the clients with the most referrals, that begin training with us, have a chance to win some outstanding prizes. We'll be giving away one of these prizes to each of the top three: an iPod nano, two weeks of training (6 sessions), or a One Hour Full Body Massage. Also, for each person referring someone that becomes a new client, we will also add 3 training sessions to your account.

So have the conversation with those who need assistance in improving their lives, just as you did, and receive some great rewards as well!!!

FT Seminar Series

On Wednesday, February 20th at 6:30 p.m., we are excited to host Registered and Licensed Dietitian Stacy Fisher to the studio. She will be giving an informational presentation on "Finding Your Nutritional Balance", where she will provide strategies to help us improve our eating style and our lives. I will provide some healthy goodies for the presentation, so please be sure to register on the bulletin board to reserve your seat, as attendance has been limited.

To learn more about Stacy, please visit her website at www.PersonalNutritionInc.com

With your support and dedication, FT Austin continues to grow. As a result, I'd like to formally welcome the most recent addition to our team, Summer Blaise. Here's a little information I'd like to share about Summer:

Summer graduated from San Jose State with a B.A. in Sociology in 2001. After graduation, she enjoyed living in the Bay Area, California and working as a social worker for several non-profit agencies. Upon moving to Austin in 2004, Summer found that her desire to assist people in reaching their personal goals translated very easily to personal training. As a student of stability training and Pilates, she discovered her own core strength and was overjoyed when her lower back pain disappeared and felt stronger in body and mind. This is when she had the profound realization that if she could do it, why couldn't she help others achieve their personal fitness goals? Summer became ACE Certified in 2005 and since then has enjoyed training immensely. The interaction between trainer and client is a fun, working relationship where both Summer and you have the same desire, to achieve your personal fitness goals!

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Being physically fit after age 60 may extend your life, regardless of your body’s fat content, according to a new study.

Scientists looked at more than 2,600 men and women, age 60 or older, who were involved in an NIH-funded study of exercise.  The seniors walked on a treadmill to rate their fitness levels.  Their fat levels were assessed by looking at their waist measurements, percent body fat and their weight to height ratio.

After a follow-up period that averaged 12 years, 450 participants had died.  They were generally older than survivors and also had lower fitness levels.  The percent of body fat did not appear to be related to the risk of dying.  However, people who were more fit had a lower body mass index or smaller waist measurements were less likely to die during the study.  The researchers also found that least-fit adults had a death rate 4 times higher than the fittest group.

The findings suggest that you don’t need to be thin to benefit from regular physical activity.  Regular activity—like brisk walking for at least 30 minutes most days of the week—will keep most older adults out of the lowest fitness category and possibly help prolong their lives.  A key to healthy aging is being physically active, regardless of your weight.

To get a free copy of Exercise: A Guide from the National Institute on Aging, call 1-800-222-2225. Study and story completed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892; www.nih.com

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Choosing a weight-loss program may be a difficult task. You may not know what to look for in a weight-loss program or what questions to ask. This fact sheet can help you talk to your health care professional about weight loss and get the best information before choosing a program.

Talk With Your Health Care Professional
If your health care provider tells you that you should lose weight and you want to find a weight-loss program to help you, look for one that is based on regular physical activity and an eating plan that is balanced, healthy, and easy to follow.

You may want to talk with your doctor or other health care professional about controlling your weight before you decide on a weight-loss program. Even if you feel uncomfortable talking about your weight with your doctor, remember that he or she is there to help you improve your health.

Here are some tips:

• Tell your provider that you would like to talk about your weight. Share your concerns about any medical conditions you have or medicines you are taking.
• Write down your questions in advance.
• Bring pen and paper to take notes.
• Bring a friend or family member along for support if this will make you feel more comfortable.
• Make sure you understand what your health care provider is saying. Ask questions if there is something you do not understand.
• Ask for other sources of information like brochures or websites.
• If you want more support, ask for a referral to a registered dietitian and personal trainer.
  Call your provider after your visit if you have more questions or need help.

More...

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(NewsUSA) - If you're trying to get a leg up on good health, there's one tasty food you may want to get hooked on - citrus. Citrus fruits are not only one of the most delicious varieties of fruit, but they are also full of nutritional value.

One of the healthiest kinds of citrus fruits is the grapefruit. In season from October through May of each year, tangy, juicy grapefruit complements many other foods, making it easy to pair with other items. Getting its name from the fact that it grows on the tree in clusters, like grapes, grapefruit is known to provide a full day's supply of Vitamin C. But they also provide a plentiful supply of Vitamin A and contain dietary fiber. When it comes to calories, grapefruit will fill you up without packing on the pounds; half of a medium-sized grapefruit contains only 60 calories.

When shopping for a good grapefruit, seek out a fruit that is heavy for its size. The heavier it is, the juicier it will be, making your planned grapefruit dish more delicious. Grapefruit will last for approximately two weeks when stored in a cool place in your home or up to six weeks in the refrigerator.

And while many people choose to eat grapefruit by itself, it is also great when combined with other healthy foods.

Visit www.texasweet.com for more healthy recipes.

Rio Star Grapefruit and Avocado Salad
4 servings

• 2 Texas Rio Star Grapefruit, sectioned with juice reserved
• 2 avocados, halved lengthwise and pitted
• 2 teaspoons fresh tarragon, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• Black pepper to taste

Brush two tablespoons of lemon juice over the flesh of the avocados and set aside. Add lemon juice, salt and tarragon to the reserved grapefruit juice and season with pepper. Whisk in olive oil in a slow, steady stream. Add grapefruit sections and toss gently. Place each avocado half on a plate. Top with the grapefruit mixture, dividing evenly. Serve immediately.

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Misleading weight loss advertising is everywhere, preying on consumers desperate for an easy solution. There is no magic bullet when it comes to losing weight. Claims for diet products that promise weight loss without sacrifice or effort are bogus and in some cases, dangerous.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the government agency responsible for monitoring advertising for deception. Deceptive claims in weight loss advertising are too common. That’s why the FTC is asking for your help in spotting these claims for nonprescription diet products, including nonprescription drugs, dietary supplements, skin patches, creams, wraps, earrings, or other products that are worn on the body or rubbed into the skin. This article is not intended to apply to claims made for other diet products and services, such as prescription drugs, meal replacement products, low calorie foods, surgery, hypnosis, special diets, or exercise equipment.

If the claim looks too good to be true, it probably is.

More...

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Most Americans know that massage therapy can help relieve stress and pain, reduce blood pressure and boost the immune system. And, more people than ever are trying massage for the first time.

Perhaps you received a gift certificate for massage. Maybe work’s been stressful, and you’ve thought about getting a massage to unwind. Or maybe you’re already a fan of massage and want to try a different type of massage.

Whatever your reasons, there are some basic things you should know to get the most from your massage. There are many terms for types of massage. The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) designates the various methods as massage modalities. Ask your massage therapist what massage modality will give you the results you want.

The most popular include:

More...

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This recipe serves:  8
3 pounds beef stew meat, (top round) cut into 2-inch cubes
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper
flour for dredging
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 sprigs thyme
1 bay leaf
12 ounces beer, ale or lager
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cups diced, canned tomatoes, with their juices
4 cups low-sodium beef broth
4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup frozen peas
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Dredge it in flour and shake off the excess.
2. Heat the olive oil in a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the meat on all sides. Adjust the heat so that the meat browns well, but does not burn.
3. Add the onions, garlic, thyme and bay leaf and cook 2 minutes more. Add the beer. Stir with a wooden spoon to release any caramelized bits that may be stuck to the bottom of the pan and cook until the beer is almost completely evaporated.
4. Add the Worcestershire sauce, the tomatoes with their juices and the beef broth and bring to a boil. Adjust the heat so that the stew simmers. Cook until the meat is tender, about 1 hour.
5. Add the carrots and potatoes and cook until the vegetables are completely tender, about 15 minutes more. Add the peas and continue cooking until they are warmed through, about 5 minutes.
6. Adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper, remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf and serve in a deep tureen garnished with parsley.

Serving Size: 1 bowl
Number of Servings: 8
Per Serving
Calories 445
Carbohydrate 35 g
Fat 11 g
Fiber 5 g
Protein 42 g
Saturated Fat 3 g
Sodium 611 mg  

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...continued from above.

Here are some questions you might want to ask your health care provider:

About Your Weight

• Do I need to lose weight? Or should I just avoid gaining more?
• Is my weight affecting my health?
• Could my excess weight be caused by a medical condition such as hypothyroidism or by a medicine I am taking? (Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, a condition that can slow your metabolism—how your body creates and uses energy)

About Weight Loss

• What should my weight-loss goal be?
• How will losing weight help me?
• About Nutrition and Physical Activity
• How should I change my eating habits?
• What kinds of physical activity can I do?
• How much physical activity do I need?

About Treatment

• Should I take weight-loss medicine?
• What about weight-loss surgery?
• Could a weight-loss program help me?

A Responsible and Safe Weight-loss Program If your health care provider tells you that you should lose weight and you want to find a weight-loss program to help you, look for one that is based on regular physical activity and an eating plan that is balanced, healthy, and easy to follow. Weight-loss programs should encourage healthy behaviors that help you lose weight and that you can stick with every day.

Safe and effective weight-loss programs should include:

• Healthy eating plans that reduce calories but do not forbid specific foods or food groups.
• Tips to increase moderate-intensity physical activity.
• Tips on healthy behavior changes that also keep your cultural needs in mind.
• Slow and steady weight loss. Depending on your starting weight, experts recommend losing weight at a rate of 1/2 to 2 lbs per week. Weight loss may be faster at the start of a program.
• Medical care if you are planning to lose weight by following a special formula diet, such as a very low-calorie diet.
• A plan to keep the weight off after you have lost it.

 

Get Familiar with the program and gather as much information as you can before deciding to join a program.

For additional, general information, contact:
Weight-control Information Network (WIN)
1 WIN Way - Bethesda, MD 20892-3665
Toll-free number: 1-877-946-4627
Email: WIN@info.niddk.nih.gov

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...continued from above.

Despite claims to the contrary, there are no magic bullets or effortless ways to burn off fat. The only way to lose weight is to lower caloric intake and/or increase physical activity. Claims for diet products or programs that promise weight loss without sacrifice or effort are bogus. And some can even be dangerous.

These facts do not keep fraudulent advertisers from preying on consumers and reaping billions of dollars each year. While the scams may vary (for example, pills, patches, clips, body wraps, insoles or "diet teas"), the claims are almost always the same - dramatic, effortless weight loss without diet or exercise.

A claim is too good to be true if it says the product will...

• Cause weight loss of two pounds or more a week for a month or more without dieting or exercise
• Cause substantial weight loss no matter what or how much the consumer eats
• Cause permanent weight loss (even when the consumer stops using product)
• Block the absorption of fat or calories to enable consumers to lose substantial weight
• Safely enable consumers to lose more than three pounds per week for more than four weeks
• Cause substantial weight loss for all users
• Cause substantial weight loss by wearing it on the body or rubbing it into the skin

For more information and download the brochure, visit www.ftc.gov/redflag.

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...continued from above.

• Swedish massage: The most common type of massage, to relax and energize you.
• Deep tissue massage: For muscle damage from an injury, such as whiplash or back
  strain.
• Sports massage: To help prevent athletic injury, keep the body flexible and heal the
  body should injury occur.
• Chair massage: Massage of the upper body, while fully clothed and seated in a special
  portable chair.

Finding a qualified massage therapist is also important. Ask your massage therapist about his or her credentials. And remember, each massage and bodywork modality requires specialized training.

AMTA, which requires members meet education standards, recommends asking the following questions:

• Did you graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) or from an AMTA member school?
• Are you licensed or registered as a massage therapist in this state? Not all states license
  massage therapists.
• Are you a member of AMTA?
• Are you certified by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and
  Bodywork?
• Do you have training in any specific massage modalities?

AMTA can help you locate an AMTA massage therapist in your area through its free Find a Massage Therapist national locator service or call 1-888-THE-AMTA

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